Simon McQuoid's producer Todd Garner hasn't forgotten about him.
In the Mortal Kombat franchise, Johnny Cage is a Hollywood action star turned tournament warrior. Alongside other heroic Earthrealm defenders, such as Sonya Blade and Jax Briggs, both of whom will be appearing in the 2021 reboot, Cage is central to the American presence within the Mortal Kombat mythology. Garner described Cage's character as "a very big personality" that "needs his own space," and for a film that will be focused on Asian characters and establishing their backstories, fitting in Johnny Cage would be too much of a force.
The Mortal Kombat 2021 trailers introduce a possible origin story for Liu Kang, as well as an explanation of what began the epic conflict between Sub-Zero and Skorpian. These three characters are not just integral to the mythos of Mortal Kombat, they are also consistent with the direction the film's creators wanted to go in. Garner explained, "the patina of the movie, it has a very Asian feel to it," which justifies leaving out Johnny Cage. For a character of his importance to the franchise, this Mortal Kombat film doesn't really have the room to fit him in. It's all the more reason why it makes sense to save a character of his magnitude for a sequel.
Incorporating an introduction to a Hollywood film star turned tournament contender would only take away screen-time from the other characters, especially Skorpian and Sub-Zero, who the audience will meet in the setting of feudal Japan. Garner elaborated on his intentions with the film, explaining that he wanted to do "something different and diverse and true," which wouldn't be consistent with including a lead character like Johnny Cage. Someone as important as Cage to the Mortal Kombat lore shouldn't be shoehorned in either, and with so many other great characters like Kano, Raiden, and Mileena enjoying key roles, this movie just isn't the best place for Cage to shine.
That's why, when Garner mentioned his plans regarding Johnny Cage for the possible sequel, fans of his should get excited. Garner said clearly, "I want to make a sequel, and now I've got Johnny Cage, who hasn't been used," leading some to believe that, if a Mortal Kombat sequel is green-lighted, Cage won't be left out. It just feels right, in a film that intends to work with the beginnings of the franchise's lore, that Cage's origin story shouldn't have to compete with that of such hallmark Mortal Kombat characters as Liu Kang, Sub-Zero, or Skorpian. Not to mention, what with 2021's Mortal Kombat focusing on the origins of those three, it won't feel contrived to introduce Cage in a sequel, given that many of the fighters and key characters will have already been established.
Whether or not audiences will ever get the sequel largely depends on the success of the first installment. That being said, the trailers look very promising, showing glimpses of a much more serious atmosphere than previous iterations, combined with the R-rating that the franchise's gruesome violence necessitates. As for fans of Johnny Cage, it might be a slight disappointment that he won't be appearing, but this Mortal Kombat isn't the right movie for him. Hopefully, the film succeeds, and fans can look forward to a sequel that boasts the exciting inclusion of Johnny Cage.
