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Chicago rapper Common has landed a high-profile role in an upcoming new installment of The Terminator franchise of movies.

Common, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, will star in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, which is being produced by Halcyon Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. and Sony.

The fourth installment of The Terminator focuses on John Connor, who leads the human race in an epic battle against the machines.

Common will star in the movie as a freedom fighter alongside the central character, John Connor, who is being played by actor Christian Bale.

Others starring in the movie include Sam Worthington, Derek Anderson, Jeanne Allgood, Dan Lin, Mortiz Borman, Victor Kubicek, Jeff Silver and others.

The original Terminator movie was released in 1984 and starred current California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The movie’s sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day was released in 1991 and earned four Oscar Awards.

In 2003, Schwarzenegger reprised his role for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, which has grossed almost $450,000,000 dollars worldwide, since its original release.

With his latest album Invincible Summer due in stores this summer, the rapper made it clear that he isn’t the typical rapper who turns to acting in order to boost his career, although he has his eyes set on a prestigious prize. 

“I’m not a hip-hop dude who wants to act. I’m an artist,” Common recently told the Chicago-Sun Times, adding that he has his eyes set on an Oscar Award.

“The Oscar seems very prestigious,” Common said. “With all due respect to the Grammys, there are more music categories and it’s easier to get a ticket to the show. Also if you look at it as someone coming from Chicago, there are only so many black artists who receive Oscars.”

Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins is slated to hit theaters in May of 2009.