The Boys’ Karl Urban has been reported to be in final talks to play Johnny Cage in the Mortal Kombat film sequel.
The film adaptation of the video game Mortal Kombat which was released in 2021, did fairly well, especially for a film that was released using the pandemic. The film was released in theatres and on HBO Max on the same day, so it’s a bit hard to tell if the film was a success or a failure.
But with Warner Bros giving a sequel a chance means that it did perform somewhat well. The film was greenlit in January 2022. And considering that it wasn’t cancelled by Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav like DC’s Batgirl or The Wonder Twins only means that they believe in the franchise moving forward.
It’s possible that the conglomerate, WBD, is interested in turning it into a bigger franchise similar to the new DC Universe, as they seem to be focused on delivering a cinematic experience which aligns with Zaslav’s vision. This could explain their willingness to take the risk.
Karl Urban Is In Final Negotiations To Play Johnny Cage
READ MORE: Mortal Kombat 2 In The Works With Moon Knight Writer
According to The Wrap, Karl Urban, who is currently known for his role as William Butcher in Amazon Prime Video’s The Boys, is said to be in final negotiations to be part of the Mortal Kombat sequel. The report says that he’ll possibly take the role of Johnny Cage.
The character was teased in the 2021 film. At the end of the film, Lewis Tan’s character Cole Young sets to travel to Hollywood to look for fighters to recruit for the Mortal Kombat tournament. Before the film ends, it shows a movie poster starring Johnny Cage.
Cage is known for being overconfident and a showoff. He works as an actor, and he joined the Mortal Kombat tournament to show off his skills. The character was originally somewhat inspired by the look of Jean-Claude Van Damme. But his character has grown distant from its original inspiration. Nevertheless, it still kept his style of humour. The character is known for his special move called the Nut Cracker.
Credit: NetherRealm Studios
Back in May 2022, Jeremy Slater, writer of Mortal Kombat 2, said that Cage would be part of the sequel, but at the time, he wasn’t sure how significant his role would be, saying:
Johnny Cage is one of my favorite characters, and I think there’s definitely a promise with the way the first movie ends of seeing Cole being like, ‘Okay, my next stop is to go recruit Johnny.’ So I think if he wasn’t included in the sequel at all, it would feel very strange
It’s still a little bit up in the air how much he will be included, it’s one of the things we’re currently working on. But yeah, I love Johnny and I would love to really do the definitive version, if possible, and really take everything that’s fun about that character and bring that to live action.
Slater is known for writing Marvel’s Moon Knight, and he has developed the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy.
Karl Urban Is In Talks To Star In Mortal Kombat 2
Credit: Prime Video
READ MORE: Dredd 2 In Development With Karl Urban Returning
There are already other high-profile celebrities who have expressed interest in taking the role of Johnny Cage. One thing, Van Damme himself has said that he’d love to play the character. Then again, he did play Guile in Street Fighter in 1994. WWE’s The Miz has also said that he wanted to role, which Ed Boon, co-creator of the game, even supported.
If Karl Urban does push through with being Johnny Cage, his presence alone would already stand out. Personally, that really fits Cage. Urban himself is a flexible actor, and I love that he has played a variety of characters throughout his acting career.
I enjoyed seeing him in Star Trek, Dredd, and Almost Human. And I think his personality playing the role of Skurge the Executioner in MCU’s Thor: Ragnarok, in which he played a character who was very confident in his own abilities, would be perfect for Johnny Cage.
Credit: NetherRealm Studios
Simon McQuid, director of the first film, is set to return to direct the sequel. Filming is reportedly scheduled from June to September of this year.
If things go well with the second film, then there is a chance that the franchise will be able to finish the planned trilogy. The sequel is expected to focus on the main tournament itself, while the third film is set after that. Not only that, but WBD wants to expand more projects based on the franchise.
What do you think of Karl Urban possibly taking the role of Johnny Cage in Mortel Kombat 2? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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