James Cameron made history with his pair of Terminator movies, which remain the upper echelon of sci-fi movies. The Terminator franchise continues on after Cameron's involvement slowed, and new installments have never been truly far from theaters. While some of these newer installments failed to impress audiences (and Linda Hamilton), Deadpool director Tim Miller will be able to course correct with his upcoming blockbuster Terminator: Dark Fate, which is a direct sequel to T2.
Terminator 2 is considered the strongest entry in the beloved property, with a badass Sarah Connor and her son John taking the lead roles. John was played by young actor Edward Furlong in the 1991 classic, and fans have been eager to see how the character would be handled in Dark Fate. He was noticeably missing from the first trailer, with the only new being that Furlong's likeness from T2 will be rendered through visual affects for flashback sequences. But all that changed today.
Terminator: Dark Fate is the first big presentation in Hall H of San Diego Comic-Con this year, and the presentation has revealed plenty of juicy details about the upcoming sequel. Perhaps the most unexpected bit is that Edward Furlong would indeed be reprising his role as John Connor in Dark Fate, making the upcoming timeline-defying installment a bonafide reunion for the cast of Terminator 2.
News about Edward Furlong's role in Terminator: Dark Fate comes from James Cameron himself at the panel, and CinemaBlend was in Hall H at the time this exciting update was given to the adoring fans. How John factors into the story still remains to be seen, but the hardcore fans will be happy to see another familiar face on camera when the movie arrives this November.
Related: Terminator 2 Almost Had A Different John Connor
Edward Furlong's inclusion in Terminator: Dark Fate may come to a surprise to many, as the 41 year-old actor hasn't remained especially active in the decades since Terminator 2 hit theaters. He's taken some gigs here and there, but Dark Fate should mark his most notable role in quite some time. The size of John's part in Dark Fate is still a mystery, but it'll be immensely satisfying to see him share scenes with his onscreen mother Linda Hamilton.
This announcement highlights just how much Dark Fate will be tied to the events of Terminator 2. The movie is arguably more emotional and character driven than the original, with Sarah going through a massive offscreen transformation. John's relationship with Arnold Schwarzenegger's robotic alter-ego helped the character become truly beloved in the '90s.
T-800 ultimately sacrifices himself to save John and Sarah Connor, giving a tragic thumbs up as he faded away. But Arnold Schwarzenegger's character has a role in Terminator: Dark Fate, very briefly appearing in the upcoming movie's first trailer. There are a ton of questions about what happened to the characters after Terminator 2 ended, all of which are expected to be answered when the movie arrives in theaters this fall.
All will be revealed when Terminator: Dark Fate hits theaters on November 1st. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
