Original John Connor actor Edward Furlong recently shared his candid thoughts on the decision to kill off his character in Terminator: Dark Fate, the 2019 film directed by Tim Miller. The movie marked the return of Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor and Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800, with a storyline that shockingly reveals the death of John Connor at the hands of a T-800 following the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Furlong, who reprised his role as John in a motion capture capacity, reflected on his return to the character during an interview on a podcast. He mentioned that his return coincided with his journey to sobriety, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to portray the character again, even if it was only for a brief moment.
The decision to kill off John Connor at the beginning of Terminator: Dark Fate was met with controversy, considering his pivotal role as the future leader of the resistance in previous installments of the franchise. This move significantly altered the premise that had been central to earlier Terminator movies.
Despite the mixed feelings surrounding John's demise, James Cameron has hinted at working on a script for Terminator 7, although the project's future remains uncertain. Terminator 2: Judgment Day, a beloved film and acclaimed sequel, introduced Furlong as John Connor, a character who played a crucial role alongside Sarah Connor and the T-800.
By eliminating John early in Terminator: Dark Fate, the film arguably undercut the narrative established in T2, where the focus was on protecting John from the formidable T-1000. The decision to kill off John was further compounded by the lackluster performance of Terminator: Dark Fate at the box office, which led to doubts about the franchise's future.
While John's unexpected death set the stage for a potential franchise reboot, the execution in Terminator: Dark Fate fell short of delivering the impact it could have had. The film's failure to capitalize on this pivotal moment, coupled with its underwhelming reception, contributed to the uncertain future of the Terminator series.
Terminator: Dark Fate serves as a direct sequel to Terminator 2: Judgment Day, disregarding the subsequent films to re-establish the franchise's canon. The story unfolds years after Sarah Connor averts Judgement Day, as a new Terminator threatens to eliminate the resistance before it emerges. Teaming up with a former T-800 model, Sarah embarks on a mission to protect Dani Ramos, the new target of Skynet's wrath.
