Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage May Be a ‘Different’ Character Than Fans Expect

The Mortal Kombat video game tells players to “test your might,” but the new Mortal Kombat movie may test fans’ patience. Mortal Kombat 2, the sequel to the 2021 live-action film, will finally introduce the fan-favorite character of Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban (The Boys, Lord of the Rings). However, cast member Lewis Tan says the character may be “different from what people are expecting,” according to a report by Screen Rant. Tan, who played Cole Young in the first film, promised that Urban’s spin on Johnny Cage is “really special.”

Tan was at the San Diego Comic-Con, promoting his appearance as Shatterstar in Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine. He also provided an update on Mortal Kombat 2, and the anticipation for the appearance of Johnny Cage, one of the most popular characters in the game. Casting Urban in the role was welcomed by most fans, who felt he could perfectly portray the cocky actor-turned-martial arts warrior. However, Tan says Urban’s Cage will be different from the one fans may be expecting. He said:

He’s bringing a really interesting take on Johnny Cage. I can’t talk about too much, but I can say personally that he’s a great guy and we had a lot of fun, a lot of laughs on set ,and I like what he’s doing with the character.
I think it’s really unique, it’s maybe different from what people are expecting, but I think he’s such good actor.
He’s been around for a long time, done a lot of great roles, and a lot of great franchises himself. So yeah, he’s no stranger to this type of thing, so he’s bringing something really special.

Tan’s comments may not sit well with die-hard Mortal Kombat fans, who feel the first film took enough liberties with the characters and plot. The decision to leave Johnny Cage out of the first film entirely was criticized by many fans, who feel Cage is essential to any Mortal Kombat story. Fans questioned the decision further when Tan’s character of Cole Young became the story’s focus, as Cole is a new character created just for the film.

Fans took some solace that the film ended with Cole setting out to recruit Cage to join their fight, but it remains to be seen if the character will live up to expectations. Tan’s admission that the character may subvert those expectations won’t sit well with many fans, who believe there is no need to change a character with such a strong following.Early looks at Urban’s Cage have been encouraging, and the actor rarely disappoints in his performances, which has so far given fans hope that he will still deliver the character they want to see.

Urban has earned plenty of headlines recently with his portrayal of Butcher in the Prime Video series The Boys, and he already has a legion of fans from his roles in the Thor movies, the J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot films, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. His performances should cause fans to reserve judgment until they can see him in Mortal Kombat 2 for themselves.

Who is in Mortal Kombat 2, and What is It About?

Production on Mortal Kombat 2 wrapped earlier this year, with a release set for 2025. The first Mortal Kombat film did surprisingly well at the box office, despite its release in the midst of the COVID pandemic. It earned over $84 million at the box office, which was a strong performance when considering its release on HBO Max at the same time. Fans gave it an 84% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with appreciation being shown for the film’s commitment to the R-rated violence that made the original 1992 video game a phenomenon.

Director Simon McQuoid has been tight-lipped about the plot, although screenwriter Greg Russo had previously provided more detail. He said the first film was set before the Mortal Kombat tournament, with the second set during the tournament between warriors from Earthrealm and Outworld. A planned third film would be set after the tournament.

Among the cast confirmed to return are Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Mehcad Brooks as ‘Jax’ Briggs, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, and Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion. Joe Taslim, who played Sub Zero, is returning as well, but who he will play has not been confirmed. Joining the cast for the sequel are Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel, Desmond Chaim as King Jerrod, and Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, one of the main villains.

Bodybuilder and F9: The Fast Saga star Martyn Ford has been cast in the key role of Shao Khan. Finally, it has been confirmed that another popular character from the game, Baraka, will appear in the film, but who will play him or how he will be adapted to live action remains to be seen.