Karl Urban knows he's been lucky, and he doesn't take it for granted. Over three decades, the New Zealand actor has become a fixture in beloved franchises—from The Lord of the Rings to Star Trek, Dredd, and now The Boys. As he wraps up his run as Billy Butcher in the upcoming fifth season, Urban is already diving into a new iconic role: Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat II.
For Urban, stepping into a role with a built-in fanbase comes with a sense of duty. “I think that whatever it is—whether it's Star Trek, or Dredd, or The Boys, or Mortal Kombat—if you're a long-term fan of that, you go in there with certain desires and expectations,” he explains. “I feel like my responsibility is primarily to the character, but then also to service the audience, and to service the audience in a healthy way. I want to make sure that, as I am a fan of these characters, that we're delivering what the fans would love to see.”
Fan First, Even on the Hardest Days
Urban takes his connection with fans seriously, even when life gets tough. “I've had times where I've suffered the most devastating losses in my life, and I've been out in public, and somebody comes up to me. I have to put that aside and give them a positive experience, and I am happy to do it,” he says. “If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't continue to have the opportunity to do this.” That gratitude extends to the convention circuit, where he regularly engages with admirers of his many characters.
His new role in Mortal Kombat II is especially personal. As a dad who plays the games with his kids, Urban is thrilled to bring Johnny Cage to life. “I think it's the best version of Mortal Kombat that's ever been committed to film,” he says. “I hope that it is held in high regard, and I think it will be. It's a good time!”
A Fresh Take on Johnny Cage
This iteration of Johnny Cage isn't the cocky superstar fans remember from the games. Instead, the film introduces a washed-up version of the character. “I was intrigued by a character who the world has forgotten about, and his best days are behind him,” Urban says. “His career is in the tank, he's neglected his martial arts training, and it's at this very juncture when he's at his lowest of lows. All the bombastic ego has just been existentially drained from him.”
When Sonya Blade and Raiden recruit him to defend Earthrealm against Shao Kahn, Johnny is a reluctant participant. “The journey that the character has through the movie—the arc of the character as he moves from a place of selfishness to understanding that there is a bigger picture—it felt to me to be a really compelling story,” Urban adds. “I'm always looking for an evolution when I look for a character to play, and Johnny certainly had a wonderful evolution about him.”
Lessons from a Franchise Veteran
Urban's career has been shaped by early mentors. On the set of The Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson taught him a crucial lesson: “Treat everybody—from the caterer to the stunt team to the grips—equally, and being open and available to the people that you're working with, and remaining humble in the process.” That ethos carried over to The Boys, where showrunner Eric Kripke noted that Urban set the tone on set.
As Urban closes one chapter and opens another, he remains grounded. With Mortal Kombat II on the horizon and a legacy that spans everything from Thor: Ragnarok to Dredd, he's not slowing down. For fans wondering about a Dredd sequel, Urban has previously addressed Taika Waititi's reboot plans, but for now, all eyes are on Johnny Cage's big-screen comeback.
