This is a reason why this movie is not on my must see list. Not using key characters from the original game to me and not following the traditional story that made the Mortal Kombat universe so good is not in this film. I feel as if this film will drive hard core fans away from the film part of the franchise and may also do the same to non-MK fans too.

This reboot could have been a modern day Enter the Dragon style telling of the original game or the newest reboot game. Remember in Enter the Dragon the three main heroes travel to Han's island by boat. The each arrive to the boat by a smaller boat and each one reflects on something from their past that led them to the current events. You could have had Johnny Cage, Liu Kang and even Sonya Blade have the same type of opening with Sonya's changed to reflect how she got aboard the boat.

To me Fatalities and great action alone cannot make me want to see a movie I know the story to already. So I go and hope to see my game or a comic experience come to life and then I get disappointed for things that aren't even in the game that are so iconic. At this very moment right now, Mortal Kombat (1995) is still by far the best film in the entire MK film universe hands down.

Cast announced, Johnny Cage not listed.

Plot synopsis revealed, no Johnny Cage.

Pictures released, no Johnny Cage.

...

Joe Taslim says his friend should play Johnny Cage in the sequel.

MKO: "IS JOHNNY CAGE IN DOUBT!?"

Given that the complete cast of the movie has not yet been officially released, and there are many people interested in learning updates about the movie, we occasionally add articles like these to provide a public record for reference and further discussion, especially for people who don't know the details.

For those that are interested: there are accumulating references included in the article (no official source exists for a complete cast list), and broader context quickly established in the opening paragraphs and sub-header.

We recommend checking out @trynax's post above for discussion articulating opinions about the topic at hand, or potential casting picks for the character.

Too bad there won't be a sequel along with another 25 year wait for the next reboot.

So far it appears the leaked script may be the actual script. So we'll see Johnny Cage.....on a poster.

-To my biggest fan

Ka-Tra

That would be funny if that is what it says.

Movie comes out, no Johnny Cage in the whole movie.

MKO headline: "We are now close to believing that Johnny Cage might not be in the film"

Actually, in some way, some fans speculate thanks to this snippet that Taslim accidentally slipped that Scott Adkins could have indeed been in the film as Johnny Cage when he said he'd like him back as Johnny Cage. To this day, Scott Adkins has never been in any MK media including MK: Rebirth. Fan spec video of the interview snippet where Taslim says this is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH6c65Ykq6Q

Did you see the interview? He did not say he wanted Scott "back as Johnny Cage".

He said if they get a sequel, Scott should play Johnny Cage.

Which obviously means he didn't play him in the first movie.

Jesus Christ, why stretch so hard? The disappointment is only going to hurt more.

I don't think Cage is gonna be in there in any major way. Maybe a reference to his movies and mayyyyybe a bonus post-credits scene with him, but I have no expectation for that.

I do think if there were to be a sequel he would definitely be in. The thing is, I dont feel like this thing is guaranteed a sequel in any way, and I think if it's poorly received then plans for an sequel will change pretty fast.

That being said, I imagine what Johnny could be like in a hypothetical sequel. A brave-hearted, cocky leader type, who has already been briefed on everything, who gets brought in as the trick up Raiden's sleeve. The kind of guy who walks into the room and says "alright guys, let's go kick some Outworld ass".

Either way Johnny Cage not being part of the story is a let down for me at least. If this were a true reboot then we'd have a film vaguely similar to the 1995 one only with the blood and fatalities mentioned. The tournament may be longer but it would need to showcase either the original story or the rebooted MK9 one.

Not too hyped on not seeing all the favorites from MK1 not being involved in the story nor getting a fight scene in the movie. Mortal Kombat is about a select few of Raiden's warriors who travel to and compete for Earth's survival against another realm. They don't realize what the tournament is they learn it throughout the course of their journey. None of them are born with a tattoo, or are secretly known or unknown to it. Each fighter is there for their own reason when Raiden tells them the real reason for being there. Cage thinks he's a fraud. Liu Kang is there according to the comic by express invitation and Sonya accidentally winds up there when she and her team chase Kano to the island after he boarded Tsung's boat. Sub-Zero is hired by an unknown enemy of Shang Tsung to assassinate him and Scorpion is following Sub-Zero to get revenge for the death of his family and clan at the hands of Sub-Zero. Reptile according to his bio and the original comics didn't officially appear in the original tournament he hid in the shadows protecting Shang Tsung. Goro is the champion and Shang is the Tournament Master. Raiden is invited by Shang Tsung to compete but competes only to make sure he doesn't cheat.

Where is Cole? Nowhere.

Allegedly Cole is Scorpion or his descendant? The tatts are a nod to Annihilation.

Funny, people wanting to see Cage in the movie, yet in the game people are tired of him being shoved down our throats...

Ka-Tra

Ethnically I thought Cole Young (a white/standard sounding person's name) would be racially the same, but he's caucasion looking. Maybe we'll find something cultural out if it transpires he's his forebear (different from Takeda Takahashi who's an apprentice).

Regardless who we're tired of seeing over and over again in film or in the game, whether or not we are tired of them being shoved down our throats they are part of the story. Mortal Kombat had seven fighters make it to the final stages in the tournament.

Lewis Tan is not Scorpion's descendant or even Hanzo. Cole is his own character. He won't pop up at the end and declare to be a version of Takeda, or Cage, etc. We won't get the hints that he is part of anyone. So far the leaked script was a nod that this Cole is his own character and has no ties in any way shape or form to any other MK character. Cole is to Mortal Kombaat as Alice was to Resident Evil. In every subsequent sequel, if they ever come to life, Cole will be in every one. In a nutshell, "we" the "audience" are Cole.

That was the August 2016 draft. The scene that had that was removed, though the concept could be used in another scene. The November 2018 draft has no mention of the poster.

Um, no. Not at all true accirding to the leaked script.

Cole Young is revealed to be the son of Scorpion. Unknown to us if it's another son or the one in the game. Cole gives up in the end, the tournament is postponed, Liu Kang becomes the chosen one to takd his place when the tournament resumes. The remaining Earth heroes go visit Johnny Cage in set - they just talk to a security guard who lets them in, film ends. Happy?

I have said this is a prequel of sorts and not Enter the Dragon retelling. Those of us who seen the leaked script understands it and are excited for this film. You're getting way to bent out of shape and when the film gets released you'll see what we mean.

Interesting, some people have an opinion, and others have a different opinion. CURIOUS.

Interesting, I wasn't trying to start shit. Internet is damn hostile. CURIOUS.

Ka-Tra

Well not excited AT ALL for this after waiting all these years for a new MK flick. Seems obvious we wont have a Jonny in the film. Jonny is a clown and always stealing the spotlight with levity and humor. That would take away from the newly created Generic everyman Cole. We cant be having that ! We need our original character! And I will bet my life on it they put Cole in MK12. Ya No ! 11 games of character stories and 25 years or canon out the window, boy I hate when someone messes with a good thing. Let me know how it was I just cant.......

I hope they don ́t ruin this one. But i confess that im afraid of that.

That is the older leaked script you are referring to and even in that script Johnny Cage has no fight nor involvement in the tournament. The original leaked script which has since been changed was so terrible and had no real story true to the lore was so horrible to read I myself being a fan of the story wouldn't accept a role in the filth that became the story. Why change it? If it isn't broke don't fix it. Talking about the story here. It just needs to be told in a better more richer way.

Who does Johnny Cage fight in the Tournament? No one. He doesn't even have the cannon ending he should have where he, Sonya and Kano fend off Goro while Liu Kang is kicking Shang Tsung's butt. Scorpion and Sub-Zero fight off Shang's guards along with Raiden and when all is said and done, Sub-Zero becomes Toasty! Goro, Kano and Sonya fall into the Pit where a portal sends them to Outworld. Cage grabs hold of the Pit bridge and falls but Raiden saves him at the last moment. The island falls apart and we're headed to MKII.

Again not true. The leaked version I'm referring to is the 2018 version not the 2016 version. The 11/2018 version is more accurate to the film with minor details. The January 2019 draft added the feudal Japan opening. Somehwere we went from medallions to birthmarks/tattoos. No major changes just minor.

I meant the medallion thing. My apologies when I stated that in my other post. I have read 3 different versions of this script. The 2016 one, the 2018 one and then I have also read one that also says 2018 but has some slight changes to it. Also none of know what other changes they made at the beginning of this year prior to finally going into post-production because they did do reshoots this year after some suggestions were noted on the test audience screening. Anyone know what changes they did this year?

As far as the other 2018 script I've read it stays pretty much the same up to right before Act III. The third act is then changed completely and even the ending itself is different. So I am wondering if this other 2018 script I read is the changes they made this year or was just an alternative script or what it was. I found it in close to the middle of December 2020. The place that had it posted removed it beginning of January of this year so it was only there a few weeks.

My opinion the 2016 version was completely trash. The 2018 version didn't do the movie any better and this other odd version makes it even worse. After all this talk about scripts, even though the synopsis is following one of the 2018 scripts, what if these scripts turn out to be completely something to keep us off the track of what the real movie will be about. Remember Scream 3 where the producers and writers in the film released several different versions of the movie script online to keep people from reading them to find out about the film. What if that has happened here and maybe all of the scripts with the exception of some key elements which are featured in them all about the new fighter turn out to be the real one or what if none are real and they're meant to keep us guessing? Even though that could be the case the story arch is still following them which to me kills the movie completely. Action or not, I wanted to see the story John Tobias originally created come to life or the new one Netherrealm created come to life.