The Terminator franchise returns with its darkest chapter yet, a relentless, spirit-crushing vision of the future where humans are snuffed by killer robots. There are not a lot of lighthearted moments in this film, but you might hear chuckles during the screen credits because of one line: “A McG film.”

McG? Well, his resume is highlighted by the gloss of two Charlie’s Angels films, a lot of pop music videos and a Superman film project that infamously never got off the ground.

“I know, people hear the name and think, ‘That guy must be a jerk,’ ”the 38-year-old said with a groan. “But it’s what everybody has called me forever.” The moniker was hung around his neck by his parents who put “Joseph McGinty Nichol” on his birth certificate but then decided “McG” would be a tidy way to avoid confusion since the boy’s grandfather and uncle were also named Joseph.

Says producer Dan Lin, “McG is not going to have to explain himself. He’s a talented guy. He epitomises the American dream. And unlike most people, he accomplishes his dreams.”

McG has shown a flair for the unexpected in his career, growing up as an outsider in Newport, with “my slight build, my orange afro, the braces—I was the odd kid out in a land of Adonises,” he said. He was passionate about music and, after a few attempts as music star he ended up making music videos.

Drew Barrymore was impressed with that flair as well and insisted he be the director for Charlie’s Angels. The 2000 film grossed $40 million its first weekend in the United States (a box-office record for a first-time director), and critics split on whether it was great, mindless fun or just grating and mindless. A 2003 sequel followed, and while McG isn’t especially proud of the second film, the films racked up a combined $523 million worldwide.

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