When it comes to Mortal Kombat, the character of Johnny Cage, based on Jean-Claude Van Damme, is synonymous with flamboyant movie stardom and agile martial arts mastery. So when WWE superstar Mike ‘The Miz’ Mizanin campaigned for the role, fans of both the franchise and the wrestling legend were on board. But Hollywood is the place of crushed dreams and unexpected turns; as it turns out, Miz didn’t land the part that seemed tailor-made for him. Instead, The Boys star Karl Urban will bring the iconic Johnny Cage to life in the upcoming sequel, Mortal Kombat 2.
Picture it: a wrestler with a larger-than-life persona, the kind of charisma that pops right out of the screen, and an uncanny resemblance to Johnny Cage. Mizanin was as surprised as anyone when his name started trending on social media, aligned with the very character he craved to portray. “This is crazy,” he exclaimed, overwhelmed by the fans’ support and the potential career-defining role he could play.
Determined to seize the opportunity, Mizanin took to interviews, explicitly expressing his interest in the role. “I want to be Johnny Cage,” he proclaimed. The WWE superstar has never shied away from his ambitions to step out of the wrestling ring and onto the silver screen, with Johnny Cage being the ideal character to transition into. But despite seemingly willing it to happen, he didn’t land an audition.
Upon learning that Urban had clinched the role, Mizanin was disappointed, but far from bitter. As someone who knows the rigorous effort it takes to perfect a role, he held no ill-will towards Urban, as revealed in his interview with ComicBook.com. Instead, he extended support and wished the best for the actor, expressing his excitement to see Urban’s interpretation of Johnny Cage. “I think he’s going to do an amazing job,” Mizanin commented.
His gracious response to the missed opportunity testifies to Mizanin’s understanding of Hollywood’s game of chance. “This is acting, there’s one part. There’s millions of people that want that part. There’s one, and I didn’t get it,” he confessed, providing a candid glimpse into the actor’s acceptance of both the highs and lows of the industry.
While Mizanin’s dreams of portraying Johnny Cage remain unrealized, fans are optimistic that they’ll see him play a key role in a future Mortal Kombat project. A sentiment that Mizanin himself shares. After all, the dynamic wrestler is no stranger to performance and theatrics. Mizanin is an integral part of WWE’s momentum, continuing to dazzle fans with his vivacious performances. His dedication to his craft, coupled with his vibrant personality, has kept him at the top of his game.
As for Mortal Kombat 2, while the casting decision has been finalized, production is currently at a halt due to the strike by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild.
As fans eagerly await the return of production, they can take solace in Mizanin’s words: “Will I be watching it? 100%. I’ll probably be the first person in line.”
With Karl Urban stepping into the coveted shoes of Johnny Cage, fans can only wait and speculate how the character will be portrayed in the sequel.
With The Miz not involved in any major storyline in the WWE and The Boys Season 4 delayed indefinitely, fans won’t have a chance to watch The Miz and Urban as much anytime soon. The good news is Mortal Kombat 1, which recently revealed a new set of characters, is scheduled to come out on September 19 with early access happening a few days earlier.
