Rosario Dawson’s role in the English version of Netflix’s Terminator Zero proves a unique career accomplishment. Dawson voices the character of Kokoro, the villain turned antihero of the show, marking her entrance into the Terminator cinematic universe, after also appearing in Marvel, DC, and Star Wars franchises. Dawson joined Timothy Olyphant in the Terminator Zero cast, attracting new audiences to the franchise due to her lasting star power. Dawson’s roles in several major superhero and sci-fi franchises have all found mainstream success, contributing to an impressive career record that marks her out.
The anime television show is a part of the Terminator film universe, which was launched by director James Cameron in the 1980s and famously starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.Terminator Zero instead focuses on new characters that the original films did not previously explore. Terminator Zero received positive reviews, boasting an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, marking yet another career high for Dawson’s sci-fi work. The project’s positive reception is impressive. However, what’s perhaps an even bigger achievement is how the series has made Dawson a fixture in all four of arguably the biggest sci-fi franchises of all time.
Rosario Dawson Has Now Been In Terminator, Star Wars, Marvel, And DC
Over 20 Years Into Her Career, Her Star Is Still On The Rise
While many stars have featured in multiple franchise, Dawson holds a unique record after Terminator Zero. In the MCU, Dawson featured as Claire Temple in Marvel’s hit show Daredevil. Claire Temple’s television character is an amalgamation of the character of the same name in the original comics and the character of Night Nurse. The show was released to widespread acclaim in 2015, and cemented Dawson’s status as a potential comic book adaptation star.
Dawson later went on to join the star-studded cast of Disney’s The Mandalorian, where she starred as Ashoka Tano opposite Pedro Pascal, Nick Nolte, and more. Additionally, in the DC world, Dawson has portrayed several characters. She notably voiced Barbara Gordon in The Lego Batman Movie in 2017, Artemis in Wonder Woman: Bloodlines, and appeared as Alma Ortego on HBO’s DMZ in 2022. While Dawson’s projects with Marvel and Star Wars boast higher critical ratings, her DC appearances made her one of the few performers to feature in all three hugely popular franchises.
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Terminator Zero completes Dawson’s franchise journey, with her performance breathing new life into a long-established franchise. Her antihero Kokoro adds an element of realism and a timely conversation about AI technology to a show a part of a franchise that began in the 1980s. While Dawson does have a long resume of sci-fi projects, each role explores its own unique trope within the genre. The fact that she has appeared in all four franchises should not be underestimated and is a clear indication of Dawson’s star power and broad appeal to sci-fi audiences.
Dawson’s Kokoro Is One Of The Most Interesting Terminator Characters In Years
Kokoro Is An Intriguing Villain
Dawson’s character Kokoro in Terminator Zero gives the franchise a much-needed modern update. The anime series includes Kokoro as an AI-created intelligence source imbued with free will, which leads to her villainy. The show seeks to examine the impact of technology on society, and what happens when the world order becomes too reliant on artificial intelligence. Terminator Zero also explores what happens when artificial intelligence becomes a major factor in the power balance of the world.
Kokoro’s character not only serves as a nuanced female villain (and at times, antihero) but also a catalyst in the greater conversation of the series as a whole. In her numerous other roles in major sci-fi franchises, Dawson frequently plays heroes, both of the superhuman and human orders. In Terminator Zero, Dawson explores an even more complex character with villainous tendencies, further demonstrating what she can bring to already-established sci-fi stories.
What Is Next For Rosario Dawson’s Franchise Roles
Dawson Will Reprise Several Of Her Franchise Roles
Dawson will likely reprise a number of her major franchise roles. She is set to reprise her role as the titular character in Ashoka, which is currently slated to begin filming in 2025 (via The Hollywood Reporter). While The Mandalorian season 4 is yet to be confirmed, a film set in the same universe titled The Mandalorian & Grogu could potentially feature Dawson. As of now, the actress is not confirmed to be appearing in any MCU projects anytime soon, but there is always room for her character to return, and she has expressed that she is open to it.
Terminator Zero has already been renewed for a second season with Netflix, on which Dawson will reprise her role as Kokoro. The complex and engaging show has been full of twists and turns, which will only continue with Dawson’s continued vocal performance in its second season. The show continues to offer a fresh spin on a beloved franchise, which Dawson has already proven herself more than capable of pulling off.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter
A covert team is tasked with preventing a future dominated by sentient machines. As they battle advanced androids and uncover hidden agendas, they strive to alter the course of history, facing moral dilemmas and high-stakes conflicts in a race against time.
- Character(s)
- The Terminator , Kokoro , Malcolm Lee , Eiko , The Prophet
- Seasons
- 1