Karl Urban Takes Center Stage as Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2's Wild New Trailer

Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage Crashes Into Mortal Kombat 2

The Mortal Kombat franchise is raising the stakes, and this time it’s hanging the plot on the sunglasses and smirk of Johnny Cage, brought to life by Karl Urban. In the just-dropped trailer for Mortal Kombat 2, Urban leans into Cage’s blend of swagger and insecurity, serving up a version of the washed-up Hollywood star that’s as funny as he is flawed.

Right from the start, we’re shown glimpses of Johnny’s old fame—a parody movie trailer for his fake blockbuster 'Citizen Cage'—drawing a sharp line between Cage’s glamorous, fading movie career and his unexpectedly real plunge into the deadly world of Mortal Kombat. This meta gag doesn’t just build the character; it pokes fun at everything we love (and roll our eyes at) about celebrity action heroes.

Urban shapes Cage as cocky but not invincible. He cracks jokes about his own lack of mystical fighting powers, dismissing other warriors’ supernatural skills with lines about “transformer arms” and “lightning bolts.” As he meets Sonya Blade (the franchise’s no-nonsense fighter and Liu Kang’s trusted ally) and rubs shoulders with the scheming Kano, Johnny’s attitude gets called out as much as his fists are put to work.

Brutal Fights, Big Egos, and an Expanded Universe

If you came for Mortal Kombat’s signature mayhem, the trailer doesn’t hold back. There’s bone-crunching action and gritty brawls, plus the promise of returning legends like Scorpion and Sub-Zero. Long-time fans will catch nods to franchise lore—including the never-ending struggle between realms that’s brought to life with high-stakes tension. When Earth’s survival is on the line, even a washed-up movie star has to get serious.

Raiden (the thunder god with an agenda) sets up the film’s heart: he wants Cage on his team against Shao Khan and a lineup of otherworldly threats. It’s clear Cage isn’t just comic relief—he’s on a redemptive path, forced to drop the Hollywood act when it matters most. The makers blend ensemble storytelling—the classic team-up with Sonya, Liu Kang, and others—with a tighter focus on Cage’s transformation from self-obsessed actor to real fighter.

What sets this sequel apart are the in-jokes and fake movie trailers that rip into Cage’s past roles, adding a fun, fourth-wall-breaking twist. Karl Urban, best known recently as the foul-mouthed Billy Butcher from The Boys, brings that same rough charm. It’s a clever update, combining the fighting and spectacle Mortal Kombat fans expect with a fresh layer of pop-culture comedy.

The wait won’t be much longer—Warner Bros has set the next round of fights for a 2025 release. From everything we’ve seen, this Mortal Kombat promises a wild ride, whether you’re here for the blood, the banter, or the brilliant chaos of Johnny Cage unleashed.