The former Doctor Who star Matt Smith has signed on for an unspecified original role in the new Terminator movie Genesis. Paramount said Smith would play a "new character with a strong connection to John Connor". Connor, the leader of the anti-machine resistance originally played by Edward Furlong, will be played by Zero Dark Thirty's Jason Clarke in the new movie.

Matt SmithMatt Smith at the GQ Men of the Year Awards

"The thing is, I've been implanted with a chip where, if I talk about it, my head explodes," said Smith during a question and answer session at Wizard World Minneapolis. "All I can say about Terminator is that I'm very excited to be part of the Terminator franchise because those movies - those first two movies, particularly - are brilliant. Yeah, it's very exciting."

Genesis is to be directed by Games of Thrones' Alan Taylor and sees Arnold Schwarzenegger return to the role that helped shape his career. Smith, 31, also joins Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney and JK Simmons in the cast. Clarke is to play John Connor's mother Sarah - the role assumed by Linda Hamilton in the original movies. It will also played by Lena Headey in a spin-off TV series. Courtney will play the time-travelling Kyle Reese.

More: Arnold Schwarzenegger promises a 'twist' in Terminator's story

Paramount have high hopes for Terminator: Genesis and first went after Justin Lin and Ang Lee to direct. When a deal could not be reached, they plumped for Taylor, with hot-shot producer Megan Ellison joining the crew, too.

Principal photography began on April 21, 2014 in New Orleans with a release date scheduled for July 1, 2015. It will one of several big-budget action movies set for next year, with The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Star Wars: Episode VII also slated for release. 

More: Check out our Emilia Clarke pictures

Was this the moment Matt Smith went for Terminator: Gensis discussions?: