Terminator Dark Fate Edward Furlong return after drugs, prison, violence: Look at him now

James Cameron made the big announcement at Comic-Con in San Diego, on a special video link before Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton took to the stage with arrived with Dark Fate director, Tim Miller. Furlong was just 13 when he became a global star. Good looking, charismatic and a talented actor, he had a presence beyond his years and seemed set for a shining future. Unfortunately, his life spiralled quickly out of control and he became an example of the dangers of too much, too young. 

When news of the movie surfaced last year, fans were eager to know if Furlong would be back. As well as concerns over his lifestyle and lengthy police record, there were comments about his physical shape fo such an action-packed project.

In September last year, a source close to the actor told TheTerminatorFans.com:  “It was nice to see the support from this group. For people who are fans, I just wanted to let you know he is doing well and is working on himself and works out every day.”

Furlong was pictured at two fan events this year and appears to be some way behind co-star Hamilton’s impressive fitness regime, although principal photography actually wrapped last November.

At 41, the star has battled drug addiction throughout his teenage and adult life and first entered rehab when he was 20.

Furlong’s teenage years were blighted by his mother and relatives fighting for custody over him and his then lucrative career. At the same time, the 13-year-old started a relationship on the Terminator set with 26-year-old Jacqueline Louise Domac.

The remained on and off together for most of the decade. Furlong’s family later tried to prosecute her for statutory rape. In 1999 Domac accused Furlong of domestic violence in May 1999. The next 17 years would be marred by police and court cases.

Furlong publicly admitted he was “on and off heroin and cocaine” from 1999-2003.

His personal relationships continued to be troubled, with numerous accusations of violence. The actor married Rachael Bella on April 19, 2006 and they had a son that September 2006. On July 8, 2009, Bella filed for divorce. In the court documents she testified that their son had tested positive for cocaine and the judge ruled Furlong could only visit his child under supervision.

Bella also took out a civil protective order against her ex-husband, which Furlong quickly violated in 2010 resulting in three years on probation. 

In 2009 Furlong became involved with another actress, Monica Keena, on the set of their straight-to-video 2009 remake Night of the Demons.

Furlong was issued with a second civil protective order after he was arrested in October 2012 for a domestic violence felony. He was arrested a month later for allegedly assaulting her and again in January 2013. In March Furlong was sentenced to 180 days in jail for a violation of probation after he “used force” against Keena, and for violating the protective order.

Furlong was arrested yet again in May 2013. He had already been in jail for 61 days and avoided a full sentence by agreeing to go to rehab for drug addiction for 90 days. He also underwent mandated 52 weeks of domestic violence counselling. 

The actor has avoided any more encounters with the police and courts since then and continues to appear in low-profile projects. Terminator Dark Fate will be his biggest project for three decades. For a franchise based on time travel and altering the past, this is fitting a chance to rewrite his future.

TERMINATOR DARK FATE IS OUT ON OCTOBER 23 IN THE UK AND NOVEMBER 1 IN THE US

source: express.co.uk