Karl Urban is about to throw some serious punches in Mortal Kombat II, but fans hoping he'll also return to Mega-City One may need to temper their expectations. The actor, known for his gritty roles in The Boys and Dredd, has finally spoken out about Taika Waititi's upcoming Judge Dredd reboot — and it's not the news diehards were hoping for.
In a recent interview, Urban confirmed that he has not had any discussions with Waititi about reprising his role as the iconic lawman. "No, no, no, not at all," Urban said when asked if he's involved. "I'm super excited to see what he does with it. I think that he's a phenomenal filmmaker, and with modern technology and the worldbuilding that you can do with things like the Volume, I'm super excited to see what he does with it."
Urban's Dredd, released in 2012, earned a passionate cult following for its brutal, no-nonsense take on the comic book character. Despite critical acclaim and fan devotion, the film failed to recoup its $50 million budget, leaving the door open for a reboot rather than a sequel. In July 2025, it was announced that Waititi and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation writer Drew Pearce would be developing a new take on the property.
The two stars have worked together before — Urban played Skurge in Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok — which fueled speculation that Urban might return. But for now, the actor is focused on another fan-favorite role: Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat II.
After being notably absent from the 2021 reboot, the cocky, Jean-Claude Van Damme-inspired fighter is finally making his big-screen debut. The sequel, directed by Simon McQuoid, pits Earthrealm's champions against the fearsome Shao Khan, played by Martyn Ford. Urban's Cage will cross paths with familiar faces like Josh Lawson's Kano and Hiroyuki Sanada's Scorpion, as well as newcomers including Adeline Rudolph's Kitana and Tati Gabrielle's Jade.
While Urban may not be suiting up as Judge Dredd anytime soon, his excitement for Waititi's vision is genuine. "With modern technology and the worldbuilding that you can do with things like the Volume, I'm super excited to see what he does with it," Urban reiterated, echoing his earlier comments.
For fans of sci-fi cult classics, the Dredd reboot remains one of the most anticipated projects in development. And while Urban won't be part of it, his legacy as the character is secure. Meanwhile, Mortal Kombat II hits theaters on Friday, May 8, 2026.
Stay tuned for more updates on both Judge Dredd and Mortal Kombat II as they develop.
