Common has new album, 'Terminator' role on tap

Chicago rapper Common has been tapped to star in the upcoming fourth installment of the ‘Terminator’ series, ‘‘Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins.’’

He will play a freedom fighter named Barnes who is defending the human race against a machine that aims to destroy it.

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He'll be bahck. Chicago rapper Common returns with a new album this summer, then stars in the next "Terminator" movie, due next year.

(Sun-Times file)

Common will star alongside Christian Bale — who will play the main character John Connor — and Sam Worthington, among others. The film is set to hit theaters May 2009.

Common will be releasing his eighth album, ‘‘Invincible Summer,’’ in mid-July.

‘‘I created this music for the summertime, it’s about feeling good,’’ Common said of the electro-tinged and techno-driven album. ‘‘This is the type of music I felt was missing from my body of work.’’

Common will also appear in the June 27 film ‘‘Wanted,’’ which co-stars James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman.