The Tarantino Character Mortal Kombat 2’s Johnny Cage Is Based On (Replacing Jean Claude Van Damme)

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Before making the first Mortal Kombat arcade game in 1992, Midway Games tried to create a fighting game using Jean-Claude Van Damme, inspired by his movie Bloodsport. When that plan fell through, they turned the idea into a new, fictional character named Johnny Cage. Cage was designed as a playful imitation of Van Damme – his outfit, signature move, and confident personality were all meant to be a parody. He became a hugely popular character in the Mortal Kombat series, so many fans noticed when he wasn’t in the 2021 movie reboot. Jeremy Slater, a writer on Mortal Kombat II, is bringing Johnny Cage back for the sequel, and he says this version of the character won’t be based on Van Damme anymore.

When creating his character Johnny Cage, Slater drew some inspiration from Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He was particularly influenced by the idea of a fading star who almost reached his full potential. Slater wasn’t writing the part with Karl Urban in mind, and was surprised when Urban was suggested for the role. Luckily, producer Simon McQuoid saw the potential in casting Urban.

Slater explained that Simon recognized a vulnerability beneath Johnny Cage’s tough exterior, thanks to Urban’s performance. He admitted he might have subconsciously channeled a bit of Brad Pitt’s laid-back attitude from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, specifically the way Pitt’s character, Cliff Booth, handled chaotic situations. However, Slater emphasized he didn’t write the role with any particular actor in mind, but rather focused on capturing those specific Cliff Booth-like qualities.

Johnny Cage Is the Protagonist of the New Mortal Kombat Movie

Focusing the next Mortal Kombat film on Johnny Cage is a smart move to fix a major problem with the first reboot. Director Simon McQuoid initially left Cage out of the 2021 film because he thought the character’s larger-than-life personality would overshadow the story and world-building. Instead, they created Cole Young (played by Lewis Tan), an original fighter not from the games, to be the main character. However, despite a good performance by Tan, Cole Young didn’t quite resonate with fans the way the franchise needed.

Johnny Cage has been a core part of the Mortal Kombat series since the very first arcade game in 1992. He was one of only seven original fighters and the first character the developers created. Over the years, Cage has grown from a simple parody of Jean-Claude Van Damme into a genuinely heroic figure, despite initially being self-centered. Previous live-action portrayals – Linden Ashby in the 1995 cult hit and Chris Conrad in the 1997 sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation – didn’t fully show his emotional depth, mostly focusing on his humor. Karl Urban’s take on the character, inspired by Brad Pitt’s role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, has the potential to be the most nuanced version of Cage seen outside of the games.

Mortal Kombat II hits theaters on May 8th.

Thrilled to see Johnny Cage get his moment in Mortal Kombat II? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-05-04 15:10