A new photo shared by Mortal Kombat 2 producer Todd Garner teases Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage and offers a glimpse at a key costume detail. Following a four-month break in filming due to 2023’s SAG-AFTRA strikes, production on the highly anticipated sequel resumed in November last year. Since then, Garner has shared a lot of behind-the-scenes footage via social media, teasing the arrival of several new Mortal Kombat 2 characters, including Shao Kahn, Kitana, and Jade.
Most recently, Garner shared a new close-up detail of Urban’s Johnny Cage costume via X/Twitter. Check out the post below:
While the new shot does not provide a full look at Urban’s Mortal Kombat 2 movie costume, the producer’s close-up photo features Johnny Cage’s signature belt buckle. Urban’s buckle features Cage’s name embossed in large metallic letters, keeping up with the traditional look given to the Hollywood superstar-turned-Earthrealm warrior featured in the original video games.
Why Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage Will Be Essential To Mortal Kombat 2’s Success
While the R-rated violence featured in 2021’s Mortal Kombat reboot was truer to the spirit of the games than the original 1995 live-action adaptation, the decision not to directly include the character of Johnny Cage generated a considerable amount of backlash from established fans of the franchise. Not only was Cage one of the original seven playable characters featured in the very first Mortal Kombat game, but he was also the first character created by the game designers and a deliberate call-back to their initial plans to create a game featuring a digitized version of Jean-Claude Van Damme.
While the actor ultimately turned down the opportunity, Mortal Kombat creators Ed Boon and John Tobias created Johnny Cage as a parody of the Belgian action star and even supplied him with the same initials. With Johnny Cage considered an important part of the franchise’s legacy, the decision to forgo his character and introduce an entirely original character in the form of Lewis Tan’s Cole Young was the source of much consternation among Mortal Kombat‘s video game fans. Though the 2021 movie still teased the character’s eventual appearance, many viewers felt the oversight was too great a diversion to the franchise’s established lore.
Mortal Kombat: Cole Young’s True Identity Explained
The 2021 Mortal Kombat movie introduces a new fighter, Cole Young, to the pantheon of Earthrealm’s champions, but what makes him so important?
Thankfully, Cage’s confirmed appearance in the Mortal Kombat 2 movie and the decision to cast Urban in the role bodes well for audience members keen to see the character’s live-action return. While the sequel will also feature the debut of several other well-known characters, few will have the same impact or widespread interest as Earthrealm’s champion movie star. If Mortal Kombat 2 hopes to address some of the criticisms leveled at the 2021 reboot, Urban’s time wearing Cage’s belt buckle will be essential in setting the tone and harkening back to the franchise’s rich history.
Mortal Kombat 2
- Director
- Simon McQuoid
- Cast
- Martyn Ford , Desmond Chiam , Ana Thu Nguyen , Damon Herriman , Lewis Tan , Jessica McNamee , Josh Lawson , Tadanobu Asano , Mehcad Brooks , Ludi Lin , Karl Urban , Tati Gabrielle
- Rating
- R
- Genres
- Action , Horror , Martial Arts , Supernatural
- Writers
- Jeremy Slater
- Characters By
- Ed Boon, John Tobias
- Studio(s)
- Atomic Monster Productions , Broken Road Productions , New Line Cinema
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- prequel(s)
- Mortal Kombat (2021)
- Franchise(s)
- Mortal Kombat
