TV Article

The Many Faces of John Connor

We track the evolution of the ''Terminator'' character, from Edward Furlong to Christian Bale

By | Jan 11, 2008

The actors portraying John Connor

Sure, his mom's tough, but she's not the one set to save humanity. A look at John Connor through (film & TV) history.

Edward Furlong
T2: Judgment Day (1991)

In our first look at Connor (and the only one by creator James Cameron), he's a wiseass delinquent teen with a bad haircut who loves nothing more than hacking ATMs and rocking out to Guns N' Roses.

Nick Stahl
T3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Living ''off the grid'' after his mother died from cancer, Stahl's Connor bears little resemblance to Furlong's: Now in his 20s, he's well-mannered, and a little dull. At least he's got OK hair.

Thomas Dekker
The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Slotted in age between the T2 and T3 versions, this Connor, 15, does feel like a bridge between Furlong and Stahl. Though mostly cowed by his protective mother, the kid still knows how to pick a lock.

Christian Bale
Terminator Salvation (2009)

With Bale starring as an adult Connor — during the future war with Skynet — we hope we'll finally see the heroism that drove his father to say in the first Terminator film, ''I'd die for John Connor.''

Originally posted Jan 11, 2008 Published in issue #974 Jan 18, 2008 Order article reprints