Why Mortal Kombat 2 Is Like a Quentin Tarantino Movie Explained by Karl Urban

Karl Urban has revealed that a sequence in Mortal Kombat 2 is inspired by Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, as the actor steps into the role of arrogant martial arts star Johnny Cage.

Urban, known for physically demanding roles in The Boys and Dredd, described the part as the most grueling of his career. Yet it was not the fight choreography that proved most memorable during production. Rather, it was the opportunity to film a movie-within-a-movie, a narrative device he had long wanted to use.

Karl Urban compares Mortal Kombat 2 to Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

Karl Urban compares his upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 to Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. “For the longest time, I’ve wanted to shoot a movie within a movie,” Urban said. “[Quentin] Tarantino did it so well with [Leonardo] DiCaprio in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. This was a blast.”

The Tarantino comparison stems from how Mortal Kombat 2 introduces Johnny Cage. Before joining Earthrealm’s champions, Cage appears inside a scene from one of his own films, aka a self-contained action parody that will show why his Hollywood career is failing. Karl Urban shared why the sequence was designed as “a fun, reverential piss-take of ’90s action films.” 

The approach mirrors Quentin Tarantino’s treatment of DiCaprio’s fading actor Rick Dalton, whose career is shown through clips from Bounty Law and another as a guest spot on The F.B.I. Both characters are framed by their questionable output before audiences witness their redemption arcs. As Urban aptly put it to People, “As a story point, it’s easy to see why Johnny Cage’s career is in the tank, judging by his work in the movie-within-the-movie.”

The 2021 Mortal Kombat film ended with MMA fighter Cole Young traveling to Los Angeles to recruit Johnny Cage. The sequel picks up that thread, introducing Urban’s Cage with a Hollywood-sized set piece that features action and meta-comedy. Beyond the stylistic homage, Urban confirmed he is open to continuing the role should the franchise move forward with a third one. 

Mortal Kombat 2 is releasing in theaters on May 8, 2026. 

Source: Comingsoon.net