Mortal Kombat's Johnny Cage Getting Animated Origin Story Movie With Joel McHale Returning In R

Johnny Cage from Mortal Kombat is officially getting his own animated origin story, and Joel McHale returned in the movie's R-rated trailer.

The Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match trailer offers some insight into Johnny Cage's very own R-rated animated movie. Having first appeared in the original Mortal Kombat as an actor working to prove himself to critics and casting directors as a real fighter, Johnny (Joel McHale) has risen to become a legendary combatant. McHale's Cage previously appeared in the animated movies Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge and Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms, but it is finally time for the fighter to star in a movie of his own.

As part of the franchise's San Diego Comic-Con 2023 panel, Warner Bros. Entertainment unveiled the official Mortal Kombat: Legends: Cage Match trailer.

The trailer, as seen above, shows the movie will explore Cage's origins, including the bullying that drove him to seek out martial arts training, as well as putting him on the path of arrogance and humor that helped him stand out against his other competitors. It features extreme violence, innuendo, and some raunchy language from the late Gilbert Gottfried's David Doubldy.

It's hard to imagine a better lead for a Mortal Kombat movie than Johnny Cage. Cage is an aspiring movie star himself, and he brings charisma, humor, and remarkable fighting skills everywhere he goes. Having been a breakout legend in the Mortal Kombat series, it is only natural that Cage will be getting a movie of his own, and as a household name, Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match giving Cage an opportunity to shine is no surprise at all.

Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match will be set in the 1980s, meaning that it will not need to compete with the other Mortal Kombat Legends movies. Instead, it can focus on its own narrative, as well as its own retro style, which gives Cage the room he needs to breathe and develop his own supporting cast and storyline. Previous Mortal Kombat Legends movies have struggled with critics, but Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match's trailer indicates that it could be light-hearted enough to entertain audiences and critics alike.

Mortal Kombat 2 has suffered serious delays due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, but Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match may be more than enough to keep interest in the brand alive. Its cast is sure to help as McHale is joined by many high-profile names including the late Gottfried, Matthew Mercer (Critical Role), and Jennifer Grey (Ferris Bueller's Day Off). Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match is set to be a fun romp for Johnny Cage that doesn't take itself seriously, which is exactly what Mortal Kombat should be.

Source: Warner Bros. Entertainment