Bryce Dallas Howard is Kate Connor in Terminator 4

Warner Bros has decided to replace Charlotte Gainsbourg with Bryce Dallas Howard in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins. The official reason for the change is a schedule conflict. If the actors strike were to happen the restart of Terminator 4 shooting would conflict with a French comedy Gainsbourg is attached to. Howard is now in negotiations to play Kate Connor, the wife of human resistance leader John Connor, played by Christian Bale.

The character of Kate was introduced in Terminator 3 as Kate Brewster, played by Claire Danes. If you remember correctly Brewster was actually the one who sent the last terminator (played by Arnold) back in time to protect John, as Connor was said to have been assassinated on July 4th 2032 by the same T-850. The film begins 14 years before his assassination.

McG is certainly “casting UP” for this film, and at least Howard doesn’t have to dye her hair for the part. Bryce Dallas Howard, the daughter of Ron Howard, is a classically trained sctress with a theater background. An alumna of Steppenwolf and The Actors Center, Howard is probably best known for her film roles in the M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village and Lady in the Water, and as a supporting role as Gwen Stacy in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Series in 2008 for As You Like It.

Principal photography began last month and the movie is currently filming at the Albuquerque Studios and on location throughout New Mexico. Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins hits theaters on May 22nd 2009.