Karl Urban has offered a fresh and unexpectedly somber take on Johnny Cage for the upcoming Mortal Kombat II movie, revealing during NYCC 2025 that fans should prepare to meet a very different version of the iconic Hollywood martial artist. Unlike the cocky superstar of the games, this Johnny Cage has hit rock bottom. Urban described him as “a very dispirited character,” whose fame has faded, career collapsed, and confidence shattered. The once-glamorous action hero has fallen into obscurity, neglected his martial arts discipline, and lost touch with the world that once adored him.
“When we first see Johnny in the film, he’s broken,” Urban said. 
“His career is in the tank, the world’s moved on. There’s none of that brash arrogance from the games left – not yet, anyway. But through the course of the movie, we see him rebuild himself, rediscover his spirit, and evolve into the kind of hero worthy of Earthrealm.”
Writer Jeremy Slater echoed this vision, explaining that the transformation was key to making Cage a meaningful character arc rather than just a walking punchline. “Johnny from the games – the biggest star in the world – isn’t someone you can really take on a journey,” Slater said. “But a man who’s fallen from grace? That’s where the story lives.”
Urban, known for his intense roles like Billy Butcher in The Boys, reflected on the experience of joining the established Mortal Kombat ensemble. “We walked into something that already had a strong family dynamic,” he said. “The first film’s cast had this bond, and they welcomed us in right away. It was physically and mentally one of the toughest projects I’ve done – brutal choreography, long shooting days – but the stunt team was unbelievable. We pushed through as a unit, like a family.”
New Line Cinema describes the sequel as “the latest high-stakes chapter in the blockbuster franchise, filled with the blood-soaked spectacle fans love.” This time, Earthrealm’s defenders – now joined by Johnny Cage – face the ultimate battle against Shao Kahn’s dark reign, where the fate of entire realms hangs in the balance. Expect intense action, savage fight sequences, and the emotional revival of one of the franchise’s most beloved antiheroes when Mortal Kombat II hits theaters on May 15, 2026.
Urban’s portrayal promises a deeper, more human version of Johnny Cage – one that strips away the vanity and exposes the man behind the sunglasses. For fans, that blend of redemption, ego, and explosive combat could make this the most emotionally charged Mortal Kombat yet.