The Mortal Kombat 2 film is in active development, with Moon Knight showrunner Jeremy Slater penning the script. That said, many fans are still disappointed by the absence of Johnny Cage from the 2021 movie, so there will be a need to include him in the sequel. And we might know the perfect Top Gun: Maverick actor to bring the master of the shadow kick to life on the big screen.
Why wasn’t Johnny Cage in the first movie?
After the rumours that Lewis Tan was playing Johnny Cage in 2021’s Mortal Kombat or that the filmmakers were keeping him secret for a reason, fans were surprised the only mention of Cage was as a poster at the end of the movie. Screenwriter Greg Russo explained to CinemaBlend why the decision was made to exclude the popular character from the film in the first place.
“Johnny Cage is a character that we wanted to put in there,” Russo said. “Ultimately, the reason he’s not in there is because of Kano, and we ended up loving Kano [Josh Lawson] in that role more.”
It’s easy to see why the filmmakers made the choice they did, since Kano did provide most of the comic relief for the film—something that would have been expected of Cage as well. One of their characterisations would have suffered if both were present.
Will Johnny Cage be in Mortal Kombat 2?
The good news is Johnny Cage will be in Mortal Kombat 2, as confirmed by Slater. Speaking to ComicBook.com, he said, “Johnny Cage is one of my favourite characters, and I think there’s definitely a promise with the way the first movie ends of seeing Cole being like, ‘Okay, my next stop is to go recruit Johnny.’ So I think if he wasn’t included in the sequel at all, it would feel very strange.”
Slater added that he’s unsure of how big Cage’s role will be in the film. However, considering the outrage from the fans that he wasn’t in the first movie, it’ll likely be a meaty part.
Why this Top Gun: Maverick star is right for the role
There’s been a lot of debate about who can play Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2. Some industry insiders claimed Warner Bros. was looking at Charlie Hunnam, while many fans would like to see the likes of Ryan Reynolds or Scott Adkins take the part. However, there’s an actor whose big breakout role in Top Gun: Maverick proves he is the right person for the job.
Glenn Powell plays the cocky Hangman in the movie. He’s never short on confidence or wisecracks, as he claims to be the best of the best and proves it by saving Rooster and Maverick in the end. Does this story sound eerily familiar?
Powell has the natural charisma and punch-me face to shine as Johnny Cage. He struts in and looks like a star, always searching for the centre of attention. From that perspective, he ticks all the boxes for the character’s personality. If we’re talking about looks, he was in fantastic shape for Top Gun: Maverick and he knew how to wear a pair of sunglasses too. So, honestly, why hasn’t anyone cast Powell as Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2 yet?