Karl Urban has had an impressive career as of late, spanning gritty streaming hits and Hollywood blockbusters. Best known for his breakout performance in The Boys, he's now gearing up for a prominent role in Mortal Kombat 2. The trailer of the game adaptation sees him play as Johnny Cage, a fan-favourite character.
This isn't Urban's first rodeo, having significant roles in Thor: Ragnarok, Lord of the Rings, and the Star Trek franchise. Here's everything you need to know about the recently released trailer, his career, and more.
Mortal Kombat 2: Johnny Cage Reborn
Johnny Cage was teased in the original movie that was released in 2021. He's an American action film star with a background in martial arts and one of the franchise's primary heroes.
While being skilled, Cage delivers comical contrast to the otherwise serious backstory of the fantasy film. Urban is set to take his mantle, who is at home with superhero satire and film adaptations.
Urban has built a legacy getting into roles in action-packed fictional worlds. Aside from Mortal Kombat 2, some of his other roles include Judge Dredd and Commander Vaako from Riddick.
That being said, not every project has been successful. Films such as Doom and Priest either went under in box office numbers or barely clinched profit. With this in mind, his casting brought mixed reactions from fans of Mortal Kombat.
Meanwhile, a critic noted that Cage's addition to the film series 'seems to fix' the only issue with the previous movie. The article seems to address the lacking protagonist of the first instalment, Cole Young, who was played by Lewis Tan.
The silver lining for Urban here is the support from his fanbase based on recent work. In The Boys, he's best known for his accent, which could be an interesting workaround as he plays an American. All things considered, fans are eager to see Urban bring some much needed charisma to the franchise.
Streaming Fame with The Boys
Urban gained praise with his role as William 'Billy' Butcher in The Boys, which first aired in 2019. This was widely recognised, earning him a nomination for Best Actor in a Superhero Series.
He embodied the complex morals of a vigilante, most notably with a wildly intense experience from the Season 3 episode 'Herogasm.' The series is currently working on its fifth and final season, which is expected to release in 2026.
About Karl Urban: Early Life and Roles
Karl Heinz-Urban was born on 7 June 1972 in New Zealand. Early in his life, he was immersed in storytelling due to his mother's work in film facilities in Wellington.
He developed an interest in the film industry because of exposure to New Zealand cinema. Urban started stepping in front of a camera at eight years old and practised acting through school stage productions.
After attending Wellington College and the Victoria University of Wellington, he pursued acting full-time. He appeared in several local television commercials and theatres until he landed his notable early screen roles.
These included Shark in the Park (1990), Shortland Street (1993-1994), and most notably, Xena: Warrior Princess (1996-2001). This set the stage for breakthrough roles as Urban portrayed Eomer in the Lord of the Rings films from 2002-2003.
