During a panel for the upcoming Mortal Kombat II movie at NYCC 2025, actor Karl Urban shared some intriguing details about his portrayal of Johnny Cage. Fans expecting the usual brash, successful action star from the classic fighting game series might be surprised, as the 2026 film will introduce a very different version of the character.
Urban revealed that when we first encounter Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat II, he is a “very dispirited character.”
He elaborated, “His career is completely in the tank, he’s not been keeping up with his martial arts training. The world has forgotten who Johnny Cage is. He has very little of that brash, cocky Johnny Cage you know from the games; he’s a broken man… Through the course of the movie we get to see him transform into a true champion of Earthrealm and involuntarily get launched into this insane action-epic adventure. It’ll blow your minds, man!”
Movie writer Jeremy Slater further explained the creative decision, stating that “Johnny from the games, the biggest star in the world, isn’t a character you can go on a journey with.” This suggests the film aims for a more relatable and transformative storyline for the fan-favorite character.
Urban also shared insights into working with the ensemble cast, drawing comparisons to his experience with The Boys.
He commented, “We had such a blast. My The Boys crew are family; we’ve been through a lot over the last five years, seasons.”
He continued, “To walk into this movie and to walk onto something that was preexisting with the incredible cast that did such phenomenal work in the first movie… We were coming into a preexisting family and they welcomed us with open arms. We bonded really well and had a lot of fun. This movie was probably the most challenging – technically, physically, mentally – undertaking that I’ve ever attempted in my career. We had just the most amazing stunt team. We hung and we hung tough. We’re a family.”
New Line Cinema’s description of the Mortal Kombat sequel promises “the latest high-stakes installment in the blockbuster video game franchise in all its brutal glory.” The film will feature fan-favorite champions, including Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage, engaged in an ultimate, no-holds-barred battle against the dark rule of Shao Kahn, threatening Earthrealm. The movie is set to release in theaters on May 15, 2026.
For other highlights from NYCC, audiences can look forward to more news and trailers from other major franchises.