Summary

• Lewis Tan teases that Mortal Kombat 2's Johnny Cage may deviate from the original video game character.
• Karl Urban's unique take on Johnny Cage may surprise audiences, bringing something fresh to the sequel.
• Despite initial criticism, the success of Mortal Kombat in 2021 warrants a sequel with new faces and challenges.

At Mortal Kombat 2 star Lewis Tan hinted that Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage may be very different from the original games. When 2021’s Mortal Kombat reboot was first released, it initially generated no small measure of backlash due to its omission of Cage’s character, who has been a central figure in the game franchise dating as far back as its original 1992 release. Instead, the 2021 reboot introduced an entirely original character in the form of Tan’s Cole Young, who is eventually shown setting out to recruit the Hollywood action star at the movie’s conclusion.

Speaking with Screen Rant at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Tan revealed that fans may also be in for another surprise regarding Urban’s portrayal of Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2. itting that he can’t reveal too many specifics, the actor stated that his new co-star is bringing an interesting and unique take on the iconic Mortal Kombat character that may be quite different from what audiences are expecting. Check out his comments below:

He's bringing a really interesting take on Johnny Cage. I can't talk about too much, but I can say personally that he's a great guy and we had a lot of fun, a lot of laughs on set ,and I like what he's doing with the character. I think it's really unique, it's maybe different from what people are expecting, but I think he's such good actor. He's been around for a long time, done a lot of great roles, and a lot of great franchises himself. So yeah, he's no stranger to this type of thing, so he's bringing something really special.

Can Mortal Kombat 2 Afford To Get Johnny Cage Wrong?

The Decision To Leave Him Out Of The First Movie Already Drew Considerable Criticism.

However, with Tan’s comments indicating that Urban’s version of Johnny Cage may be very different to the video game character, Mortal Kombat 2 may be running the risk of further alienating the franchise’s existing fanbase.

Despite attracting mixed reviews at the time of its original release, 2021’s Mortal Kombat still managed to bring in $84.4 million at the worldwide box office against an original $55 million budget at a time when most movie-going audiences were still very much restricted by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, its initial streaming release also set a new viewership record for HBO Max, and the movie even earned the dubious honor of becoming 2021’s most pirated title.

With this kind of widespread interest, it is not surprising that Warner Bros. would seek to follow up Mortal Kombat with a sequel, despite criticisms surrounding the decision to introduce Cole Young in favor of one of the franchise’s original fighters. However, with Tan’s comments indicating that Urban’s version of Johnny Cage may be very different from the video game character, Mortal Kombat 2 may be running the risk of further alienating the franchise’s existing fanbase.

Typically depicted as an egotistical Hollywood star, the games often position Cage as a comic foil who lends the various narratives a much-needed dose of levity. Given Urban’s proven comedic talents in The Boys, he would seem like a natural fit for such a character in Mortal Kombat 2. However, should Urban’s portrayal deviate too far from the established lore, it could spell disaster for the sequel. Yet, if anyone is capable of delivering a memorable Johnny Cage, it would undoubtedly be the actor who also gave audiences Billy Butcher.

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