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.
