The casting news comes just as the competition for the role of Sarah Connor narrows to two actresses.

You might not know it yet, but "Zero Dark Thirty" and "Great Gatsby" actor Jason Clarke is becoming one of the biggest action stars in Hollywood. That's because in addition to leading "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" next year, he just landed the role of John Connor, savior of the human race, in "Terminator: Genesis," the sequel scheduled to hit theaters on July 1, 2015 and directed by "Thor: The Dark World" helmer Alan Taylor.

Deadline is reporting that Clarke won the part, for which Tom Hardy was supposedly considered, just as a frontrunner emerges for the other lead role, that of his mother, Sarah Connor.

The female lead has reportedly come down to a race between "Game of Thrones" break out Emilia Clarke and "21 Jump Street" actress Brie Larson. The iconic badass hasn't appeared on the big screen since 1991, when Linda Hamilton famously portrayed the mother of humanity's savior. Another "Game of Thrones" actress, Lena Headey, played her in a TV series based on the franchise, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles."

Clarke is taking over the role of John Connor from several notable actors who have played him in the past, including Christian Bale in the series' most recent entry, 2009's "Terminator: Salvation," and Edward Furlong in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day."

"Terminator: Genesis" will be the fifth film in the series, which started in 1984 with James Cameron's sci-fi classic, and it is said to be the first since "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" where Arnold Schwarzenegger will play a major role.

"Terminator: Genesis" is scheduled to his theaters on July 1, 2015.