Edward Furlong Is Back As John Connor in Terminator: Dark Fate

During Terminator: Dark Fate’s panel in Comic-Con’s Hall H, producer James Cameron reveals that Edward Furlong will return as John Connor. Furlong memorably originated the role in 1991’s sci-fi/action classic Terminator 2: Judgment Day, playing a teenage version of humanity’s future savior. Over the course of the film, John ended up bonding with the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) that had been sent back in time to protect him, which made it all the more sad when he and mother Sarah (Linda Hamilton) had to lower him into a vat of molten steel in order to prevent the rise of Skynet.

Of course, 2003’s Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines established that the Connors hadn’t succeeded in preventing judgment day, and had only postponed it. Well, that’s all out the window now, as Terminator: Dark Fate serves as a sequel to the only the first two films, and not any of the James Cameron-less follow-ups. While Skynet’s ascendance as we knew it seemingly didn’t happen, the machines still eventually rose, and have sent a new highly advanced Terminator (Gabriel Luna) back to take out an important human named Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes).

Up until now, it appeared that John Connor wouldn’t be a character in Terminator: Dark Fate, outside of as a kid in flashback scenes to Terminator 2. Now, Cameron himself confirmed in Hall H at SDCC that Furlong will reprise the role for the first time in director Tim Miller’s film.

Unfortunately, Cameron didn’t expand on what Furlong will actually be doing as John in the film, and neither has anyone else at the panel so far. One assumes the obvious answer would be playing John as an adult, although Edward Furlong has had lots of personal struggles over the years that have left him looking very much unlike the cocky kid that loved Guns ‘N Roses in 1991, even aside from the normal changes brought upon by aging. That said, it’s not impossible to believe that the offer to appear in another blockbuster might have inspired Furlong to get in John Connor shape for the role.

Whatever Furlong’s John Connor ends up doing, one hopes he’ll get to share the screen with Hamilton, as seeing the onscreen mother and son interact once again would be sure to delight those who grew up with Terminator 2. The same could be said for a potential interaction between Furlong and Schwarzenegger. For now, we’ll just have to wait until more info on Furlong’s role in Terminator: Dark Fate surfaces. Until then, hasta la vista, baby.