Karl Urban on playing Johnny Cage in 'Mortal Kombat II'
Published Apr 30, 2026 02:40 pm
Karl Urban (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Karl Urban is taking on an iconic role from a well-known video game, "Mortal Kombat."
Stepping into the shoes of Johnny Cage, the Australian actor admitted the process took a lot from him in terms of effort and discipline.
During the film’s virtual press conference, Karl admitted he was quite intimidated to take on the demands given to the role.
"I gotta say, coming into 'Mortal Kombat 2' was hands down the most challenging physical undertaking that I've ever done when it comes to production. The skill set required involved a steep learning curve that I had never encountered before,” Karl said.
He continued: "'I'd be lying if I say that I didn't feel a little bit terrified. I was stepping into a movie with martial artists who are accomplished."
Karl Urban as Johnny Cage (Warner Bros. Pictures)
It didn't help that he didn't get tot prepare much.
"I remember landing in Brisbane and getting driven straight to a stunt rehearsal, and I still had my bags that time," he said.
Being a well-loved franchise, Urban said he and the rest of the cast recognized the importance of "getting it right."
"This is a film that has been made by fans and I think all of the cast felt the responsibility of that and invested a significant amount of time and energy into training," he said.
Undergoing a martial arts tournament to fully understand the preparations for his role, Karl also delved into the world of "Mortal Kombat" to understand why fans love it so much.
"How can I apply what I've learned over here to the character that's written in the script?" Karl recalled asking himself.
Karl also recalled the time when he told his kids that he was playing Johnny in the film and his kids gave him blunt advice.
"I remember when I got cast, I said to my two sons--who I actually played the game with, which was my first introduction to the world of 'Mortal Kombat'-- and I said, 'Hey guys, I'm going to be Johnny Cage.' And they were like, 'Oof … Big fan base. Don't f**k it up," Karl said.
"Mortal Kombat II" follows the original live-action film that dropped in 2021. It focuses on Johnny Cage, a washed-up actor picked to join other fighters in a deadly tournament.
Together, they must stop Shao Kahn, whose rule threatens Earth.
The film hits cinemas on May 6.
"Mortal Kombat," created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, was first launched as a video game in 1992.