The Mortal Kombat video games tell players to “test your mettle,” but the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie may test fans’ patience. Mortal Kombat 2, the sequel to the 2021 live-action film, will finally feature fan-favorite character Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban (The Boys, Lord of the Rings). However, as reported by Screen Rant, cast member Lewis Tan has said the character may be “not what people expect.” Tan, who played Cole Young in the first film, promised that Urban’s Johnny Cage will be “really special.”
Tan was at San Diego Comic-Con to promote his role as Shatterstar in Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine. He also shared the latest on Mortal Kombat 2 and his excitement for the introduction of Johnny Cage, one of the game’s most popular characters. Urban’s casting for the role was welcomed by most fans, who felt he would be perfect to portray the cocky actor turned martial arts warrior. However, Tan said Urban’s Cage will not be what fans are expecting. He said:
He brings a really interesting interpretation to Johnny Cage. I can’t say too much about it, but personally, he’s a great guy, we had a lot of fun on set, we laughed a lot, and I love the way he’s playing this character. It’s very unique and maybe not what people expect, but I think he’s a really good actor. He’s been around for a long time, he’s played a lot of great roles, he’s been in a lot of great series himself. So he’s used to this kind of thing, so he brings something really special.
Tan’s comments may not sit well with die-hard Mortal Kombat fans, who felt that the first film gave them enough freedom with the characters and story. The decision to completely remove Johnny Cage from the first film was criticized by many fans, who considered Cage to be essential to Mortal Kombat’s story. Fans further questioned the decision when Tan’s character, Cole Young, became the focus of the story, as Cole was a new character created specifically for the film.
Fans took some solace in the fact that the film ends with Cole trying to recruit Cage, but it remains to be seen whether the character will live up to expectations. Tan’s admission that the character may disappoint will likely not sit well with many fans, who believe there is no need to change a character with such a strong following. Early impressions of Urban’s Cage have been positive, and the actor’s performances have rarely disappointing, so far leaving fans hopeful that he will play the character they want to see.
Urban has been getting a lot of attention lately for his role as Butcher in the Prime Video series The Boys, and has already won over many fans for his roles in the Thor series, J. J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, so it’s probably best to reserve judgment on his performance until fans see him in Mortal Kombat 2.
Who’s in Mortal Kombat 2 and what’s it about?
Production on Mortal Kombat 2 wrapped earlier this year, with a release date planned for 2025. The first Mortal Kombat film did surprisingly well at the box office, despite being released during the COVID-19 pandemic, grossing over $84 million, a good performance considering it was released on HBO Max during the same time period. Fans gave it an 84% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, praising the film’s commitment to the R-rated violence that made the original 1992 video game so popular.
While director Simon McQuoid has remained tight-lipped about the story, screenwriter Greg Russo has previously revealed details, saying the first film is set before the Mortal Kombat tournament, the second during a tournament between Earthrealm and Outworld warriors, and that the planned third film will take place after the tournament.
RELATED Why Is Johnny Cage Not in Mortal Kombat (2021)?
Fans of the popular Mortal Kombat games were disappointed that the character Johnny Cage wasn’t featured, but here’s why he was left out of the film:
Confirmed returning cast members include 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 will also return as Sub-Zero, but it has not been decided what role he will play. The sequel’s cast will be joined by Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabriel as Jade, Anna Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel, Desmond Chime as King Jerrod, and Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, one of the main villains.
Bodybuilder and F9: The Fast Saga star Martin Ford has been cast in the key role of Shao Kahn. Finally, it has been confirmed that another popular character from the games, Baraka, will appear in the film, though it remains to be seen who will play him or how he will be brought to live action.
Mortal Kombat 2 will hit theaters on October 24, 2025.
