Karl Urban and Josh Lawson have their picks for Janet Cage and a gender-swapped Kano
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
One of the most highly anticipated game-to-screen adaptations of 2026 is finally here — Mortal Kombat II brings Earthrealm and Outworld’s champions to the big screen after an explosive first film.
Its return to cinemas brings with it a renewed interest in the gameplay, its champions and every single piece of lore. Knowing a character’s brutalities, fatalities and backstory and seeing it depicted on screen can make you feel like you’re in a special club of elite fans, bringing the viewing experience to another level.
Mortal Kombat II dives into Johnny Cage’s origin story within the bounds of its cinematic universe. As Earthrealm’s newest champion and a cult-loved character in the game, fans are keen to see just how game-accurate Karl Urban’s portrayal of Cage will be. Without giving too much away, let’s just say his battle with a certain Tarkatan is probably proof enough of Urban’s qualifications to play the confident, cool guy with martial arts skills.
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Ahead of Mortal Kombat II’s release in cinemas, we sat down at one of the film’s iconic locations — Dirty Harry’s Bar at Gold Coast’s Movie World — with The Boys alum Karl Urban and returning MK star, Josh Lawson to chat about all things game-to-screen.
Despite Johnny’s charisma and striking looks brought to our attention very early in the film, both Karl and Josh admit that being devastatingly handsome isn’t the power it’s cracked up to be.
“Looks are the first thing to get, you know, boring — if that’s all you’re banking on,” Josh declared.
Instead, they argued that “kindness” and “mind over matter” are the real top-tier powers. It’s a vibe that perfectly mirrors Karl’s take on Johnny Cage — showing that a total shift in mindset is actually the secret weapon he needs to help Earth Realm take down Shao Kahn.
Of course, the multiverse and timeline-hopping nature of the Mortal Kombat games means the door is always open for some truly chaotic casting. When asked about the Janet Cage storyline and for Josh, a gender-swapped swapped version of Kano, the conversation quickly turned into a mini casting session.
Josh was first to the punch, instantly manifesting a name for his genderbent character — "Jane-o". His top pick? The legendary Kathleen Turner.
"I feel like that smoker's voice, that gravelly voice... I think she could pull it off," he joked.
Karl Urban, however, didn't have to look very far for his perfect Janet Cage. He pointed straight to his co-star, Jess McNamee, suggesting that the Sonya Blade actress would be the ideal choice to step into the Janet Cage boots.
The suggestion prompted a laugh from McNamee off-camera, though Lawson was quick to suggest the wheels were already turning.
"She’s getting her lawyers in here," he quipped. "She’s making it happen."
Whether we’ll actually see the Janet and Jane-o character remains to be seen, but the chemistry between the cast suggests that, behind the scenes, the Mortal Kombat family is just as tight-knit as the Earthrealm alliance itself.
Mortal Kombat II is in cinemas everywhere, from May 8.
Angeline Barion