Karl Urban is closing one major chapter and starting another. The actor recently finished filming the final season of ‘The Boys’ and is now preparing for the release of ‘Mortal Kombat II,’ where he plays the famous fighter Johnny Cage.
For almost a decade, Urban has played Billy Butcher on Amazon’s hit series. The show’s fifth and final season finished airing on May 20, 2026. Now, the actor is ready to show fans a completely different kind of character. ‘Mortal Kombat II’ arrived in Australian cinemas on May 6 and will release on digital platforms for global audiences on June 9, 2026.
A Bittersweet Goodbye to Billy Butcher
Urban admits that leaving ‘The Boys’ behind feels mixed. He spent nearly nine years playing the brutal and broken leader of the group fighting corrupt superheroes.
“It’s bittersweet because we will miss each other and this phenomenal crew,” Urban said in an interview. “But then there’s a great sense of pride that we can stand back and deliver this to the audience, finish this the way we want to and go out on top.”
The final season saw Butcher become darker than ever. The character gained super strength from a dangerous virus, which also gave him a brain tumor. Urban described this version of Butcher as having a “split personality.” When he fights, he turns off all human emotion.
“He becomes very cold and ruthless. That is the tragedy of Billy’s story, that he has really kind of turned himself into this thing that he finds utterly abhorrent, that he’s been fighting against for many years.”
Eric Kripke, the show’s creator, praised Urban’s leadership on set. He called him the best “number one” on a call sheet he has ever worked with. Kripke explained that Urban set a positive tone for the crew and cast, even during the difficult Toronto winter shoots.
Why Johnny Cage Was the Perfect Next Role
‘Mortal Kombat II’ director Simon McQuoid asked Urban to join the sequel. The actor almost said no. He was tired after filming The Boys season four. But the script changed his mind.
Urban explained that his schedule on The Boys gave him extra energy. During season four, his character Butcher was often sick in the story, so Urban had days off. He told his representatives he wanted to do something “high-octane.” A few weeks later, the Mortal Kombat II script arrived.
“I loved the character of Johnny Cage; I loved the story,” Urban said. “It’s definitely some of the best stuff I have ever done outside of The Boys. If it wasn’t for The Boys, [Johnny Cage] may not have been offered to me.”
A Different Kind of Johnny Cage
Fans of the video games know Johnny Cage as a cocky, confident movie star. But Urban’s version is very different. The movie presents a Johnny who has failed.
“At the point where we are introduced to Johnny Cage in the movie, the world has forgotten about him. He’s a former martial arts action star who’s fallen into hard times. He’s going to conventions, and there’s no one in his line. His confidence is at an all-time rock bottom.”
This broken hero gets called by Sonya Blade and Lord Raiden to defend Earthrealm. Urban found this starting point interesting because it allows the character to grow into the fighter fans recognize.
“He has neglected his martial arts training. I thought that was an interesting launch pad for this character, like I can take him somewhere from there. Move him towards the Johnny Cage that is synonymous with the games.”
The Physical Challenge of ‘Mortal Kombat 2’
Urban called Mortal Kombat II the most challenging film of his career, both physically and technically. He trained hard to perform his own stunts.
One fight scene stands out to him. He described a middle section of the film where Johnny Cage fights the monster Baraka as “the most fun thing that I’ve ever had the opportunity to do.”
Urban wore the classic Johnny Cage outfit for a key scene called “Uncaged Fury.” He felt the pressure to get it right because the rest of the cast came to watch him film it. He said he just leaned into the moment and had fun with it.
Urban believes this movie is for the fans. He said you do not need to watch the 2021 Mortal Kombat film to enjoy this one. He described the movie as having a lot of heart, comedy, and action.
“I think it’s the best version of Mortal Kombat that’s ever been committed to film,” Urban stated. “I hope that it is held in high regard, and I think it will be. It’s a good time!”
Looking Back at the Chaos of ‘The Boys’
While promoting the new movie, Urban looked back at his craziest memories from The Boys. He loves doing vehicle stunts. Eric Kripke recalled a moment from season two where the team crashes a speedboat into a whale.
“[Karl] really wanted to drive the boat into the whale, which he did and drove it in a way that I think almost murdered Jack Quaid,” Kripke said with a laugh.
Urban confirmed his love for action. He grew up in a generation where parents told kids to leave the house in the morning and not come back until dark. He prefers being active outdoors rather than sitting inside watching movies.
Staying Out of the ‘Mortal Kombat’ vs ‘Street Fighter’ Fight
A small rivalry has grown between the casts of Mortal Kombat II and the upcoming Street Fighter movie. Andrew Schulz, a star of Street Fighter, previously said the Mortal Kombat cast “only cares about money.”
Urban refused to fight back. He gave a calm and respectful answer when asked about the comments.
“I’m quite happy to let the films do the talking. For me, I want audiences to go back to the cinema. I wish their film all the best. I wish them success. It’s a hard thing to do. The time and energy that people put into these projects is always a leap of faith.”
He explained that he does not feel the need to fall into anyone else’s narrative. He is not competing with anyone. His only job is to serve the character, the story, and the audience.
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Release Information for ‘Mortal Kombat II’
‘Mortal Kombat II’ is now playing in theaters in Australia. The film will release on digital platforms in the United States on June 9, 2026.
A physical release on 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD will follow on July 28, 2026. The movie is rated R for its strong bloody violence and language, staying true to the game’s brutal style.
The cast includes Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, and Josh Lawson as Kano. Adeline Rudolph joins the franchise as Kitana.
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