You shouldn’t read this article if you haven’t seen the latest “Mortal Kombat” movie. We’re not even sure why you’ve clicked on it if you’re yet to see it! We’re about to discuss mild spoilers about the film and also indulge in a bit of speculation that might give away a few plot details. This is your last chance to turn back. From this point onward, we’re in spoiler territory, and that’s on you. Still here? Good. Let’s get onto the meat of the conversation!
By now, you’ll know that “Mortal Kombat” is a smash hit of a movie. Films with video game connections can be hit and miss at best in movie theatres, but this Warner Bros experiment has landed the company number one position at the box office. That isn’t as big an achievement as it would normally be, as things aren’t yet back to normal with movie theatre attendance, but it’s still beaten off stiff competition to get there. It hasn’t even opened in the UK yet, which should be another major market for the movie. When all is said and done, it will make more money than it cost to produce, and a sequel is all but guaranteed. That sequel is alluded to in the final moments of the film, as Cole Young sets off to Hollywood to find Johnny Cage.
The absence of Cage – one of the most iconic fighters from the very first “Mortal Kombat” game – is strange. The movie was great, but he was conspicuous by his absence. The way his eventual appearance is being built up suggests he’ll have a huge role to play in the second “Mortal Kombat” film, so that’s got us thinking about who might be called upon to play him.
We don’t claim to have any insider knowledge, but we can think of a few names that producers ought to be talking to. Here they are!
Henry Cavill
Johnny Cage is a movie star. Henry Cavill is a movie star. Johnny Cage is very good looking. Henry Cavill is very good looking. Cage is in his mid-thirties. Cavill is… do you see where we’re going with this? Cavill would be perfect as Johnny Cage, but he’d probably be too expensive. He’s spent most of the past twelve months playing “will he, won’t he” with the question of whether or not he’s leaving the “Superman” franchise, but we now know he’s sticking around for at least another two films. That would put his price up even further and probably push him out of the running. In addition to that, the existing cast of “Mortal Kombat” isn’t drawn from star names because that’s not what the first film was about. Still, we can dream.
John Cena
You need a Hollywood guy who can fight. That’s pretty much John Cena’s niche. Cena spent years as a WWE superstar, is shredded, and knows how to play an over-the-top character. He’d probably have to wear a wig to play the part, but that’s part and parcel of being an actor. His past experience in the wacky world of WWE has shown us that he can do cheesy comedy and one-liners, and he won’t struggle with the action aspects of the role. He’d also be a lot cheaper than Henry Cavill. That being said, though, one of his former WWE colleagues might be a better fit.
Mike “The Miz” Mizanin
“The Miz” might not be a name that’s familiar to those who don’t watch pro wrestling, but he’s a big deal within it. Here’s how big. Last year, WWE was scheduled to create a range of wrestling-themed WWE online slots and release them to Rainbow Riches Casino and other approved UK casinos sites. Almost all of those online slots were based on the company’s stars of the past, with names like Hulk Hogan and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin featured prominently. One of the only names from the company’s current roster scheduled to get his own dedicated online slots feature was the Miz. He’s a star, and he’s hugely charismatic. More importantly than that, the character he plays in WWE is almost a carbon copy of Johnny Cage – a good-looking, smooth-talking Hollywood star who likes to fight on the side. The part was made for the Miz, and there’s already a campaign for him to get it gathering pace on the internet.
Scott Adkins
Scott Adkins looks like the sort of guy who could break your bones just by thinking about it. He’s legitimately terrifying. He’s got the look, and there’s absolutely no doubt that he has the martial arts skills, but is he a good fit? Cage is a charismatic, laid-back character. Adkins positively exudes intensity. He could kick your skull clean off your shoulders, but could he deliver an immediate put-down afterwards? We’re not convinced. He’s got experience of making big-name movies, and we’re sure he’d give it his all, but he might struggle with the laughs.
Ryan Reynolds
We think we might have gone back into dreamland here, but how awesome would it be to have Ryan Reynolds playing Johnny Cage? Reynolds is the perfect balance of funny and convincingly tough. All he’d need to do is give us “Deadpool” without the costume, and he’d nail it. He’s also a video game fan and has almost certainly played the games, so he probably knows the character already. As with Cavill, though, money would probably be an issue unless Reynolds took a pay cut to play the part. We also have a nasty suspicion that he’s fully booked for the next few years. Reynolds would be a universally popular choice, but we can’t see it happening.
From the list of names above, our “dream pick” would be Reynolds. Controversially, we think our “realistic” pick is going to the Miz. He knows how to fight, he knows how to work a camera, and he’s been in movies before. He’s the best-qualified candidate, and he’s likely to be available at the right price. Why shouldn’t he get the role? To borrow his own catchphrase from WWE, he’d be awesome! We’d be all in favour of seeing the Miz in “Mortal Kombat II,” and he might even be able to boost its box office takings by attracting his wrestling fans to the movie theatre. From the names in the hat at the moment, the correct answer surely has to be Mike Mizanin.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.