Mortal Kombat 2 Casting Teases A Massive Johnny Cage Character Change

Karl Urban has been cast as Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2, which hints at a version of the Cage character who differs greatly from the games.

Mortal Kombat 2 has cast Karl Urban as the iconic Johnny Cage, which hints at a different take on the games' enduring character. In the Mortal Kombat video game series, Johnny Cage is a self-assured, ignorant movie star summoned to the Mortal Kombat tournament to fight for Earthrealm. When Cage isn't fighting Goro or starring in over-the-top action movies, the character is in a relationship with Sonya Blade. While Cage appeared in the 1990s Mortal Kombat movies, he was notably absent from the (mostly) faithful R-rated 2021 reboot.

Previously, viewers criticized Warner Bros. for inventing a totally original main character when Johnny Cage was prime for adapting. With the upcoming sequel film, the studio is finally righting this wrong. The Mortal Kombat 2 logo revealed behind-the-scenes images, including a tease of Cage's unique powers, which indicates the fictional movie star will have a big role in the film. However, the announcement that Urban will play Cage has cast doubts on whether the character's personality will be faithful to that of his video game counterpart.

Although he's currently most well-known for playing the tough, stoic Billy Butcher in the darkly funny superhero satire The Boys, Karl Urban also starred in the criminally overlooked Dredd as the titular judge, jury, and executioner. The actor was perfectly cast in both roles, proving he has what it takes to tap into grumpy, hard-nosed characters. Despite this consistent typecasting, Urban has also portrayed softer characters, including Leonard McCoy, in the Star Trek reboot film series. Regardless, Urban doesn't exactly scream "first choice" for the eccentric, self-obsessed, and goofy Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2.

In fact, casting Urban as Cage isn't just surprising but a hint at how the character will differ from his video game self. Although "vain" is a word that could describe other prominent characters in Urban's acting arsenal, it's likely his Johnny Cage will be a more serious, sneering take. That said, even if Urban's existing filmography has no bearing on his performance, he's a capable actor with the chops to tap into a faithful portrayal of the droll character. Given Urban's perfectly coiffed hair in the Mortal Kombat 2 behind-the-scenes images, it's possible an accurate depiction of the source material has been prioritized.

RELATED: 8 Mistakes Mortal Kombat 2 Must Fix From The First Movie

Before Warner Bros. announced Karl Urban's casting, 2021's Mortal Kombat teased the character's forthcoming appearance in the sequel movie, leading fans to debate who'd be the best choice for a live-action Cage. For many, WWE star The Miz would've been the perfect Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2; the real-life wrestler even nominated himself for the role. That said, the direction Warner Bros. went proves The Miz never stood a chance. With his rugged and stoic aura, Karl Urban and his typical roles point toward a new direction — not just for Johnny Cage, but for Mortal Kombat 2 at large.

Currently splitting his time between Madrid and Chicago, Stephen Barker has been a staff writer at Screen Rant since 2020. Since graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University with a bachelor's degree in Film, Television, and Cultural Studies in 2014, he has written for numerous movie and music websites. Visit Stephen's personal blog, Quaranste, where he writes about guilty pleasure movies, his latest musical discoveries, and how he stays creative during global pandemics.