Mortal Kombat: Johnny Cage was Left Out of Reboot Because of Kano

There is little doubt that Johnny Cage's absence is the one thing that fans have been complaining about in the Mortal Kombat reboot. But why did the producers choose not to include the original game character in the film? Interestingly, it has a lot to do with Kano staying in the picture.

Fans were understandably concerned when the actors joining Mortal Kombat were announced and there was no sign of Johnny being cast in the film. However, some held on to hope that the character will be a surprise in the reboot.

Unfortunately, Johnny never showed up in the movie except in a poster right before the film ended. So why was the beloved character left out of Mortal Kombat 2021? Producer Greg Russo told Cinemablend that they had wanted to bring Johnny in but it would mean giving less time to Kano, who is played by Josh Lawson.

Interestingly, Russo stated that they ultimately chose to give Lawson's character all the screentime he needed and avoid forcing Johnny's appearance in the movie.

"We know who the classics are. We know who's in there. And it was about trying to fit them all in. Johnny Cage is a character that we wanted to put in there. Ultimately the reason he's not in there is because of Kano, and we ended up loving Kano in that role more," Russo said.

He continued by stating that he would "rather save them and do them right. Introduce them correctly later than try to jam them into a role where it doesn't feel natural."

It's a tough decision to make but one that ultimately worked for Mortal Kombat. Kano was a scene-stealer and the character fit perfectly in the film.

So when can we expect to see Johnny Cage in action? We're expecting the character to finally debut in Mortal Kombat 2 which could be announced by Warner Bros. really soon.

Mortal Kombat is now screening in theaters and on HBO Max.

Related: Mortal Kombat Scores Flawless Victory over Demon Slayer Movie in Weekend Box Office