Inside the Johnny Cage/Sonya Blade Romance That Should Take Center Stage in ‘Mortal Kombat II’

The trailers for the highly anticipated Mortal Kombat II, the sequel to 2021’s franchise reboot, dropped recently, and it’s an absolute delicacy for the fans. Not only does it tease more high-stakes battles between Earthrealm and Outworld, but it also introduces Johnny Cage as the film’s new protagonist. Set to portray this iconic character is none other than Hollywood’s most underrated geek, the star of The Boys, Doom, and Dredd, the one and only Karl Urban. But, with that said, Johnny Cage isn’t the only addition to the upcoming movie.

The trailer promises to include other franchise legends, such as Baraka, Kitana, Jade, and Shao Khan, the latter of whom is poised to be the next film’s Big Bad. However, it’s Cage’s debut that got the fans’ attention. Not only is he a beloved character who has been notably absent from the first film, but his appearance opens the door to the franchise’s most iconic dynamic: his relationship with Sonya Blade. As we’re undoubtedly going to witness them fight on the same side on the silver screen, why not take the opportunity to discuss their relationship and how it might take center stage in the upcoming film?

Both Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade are the franchise’s original characters who made their debut in the original Mortal Kombat game, which was released in arcades in 1992 on Midway’s Y-Unit System. The game quickly became a cultural phenomenon thanks to its graphics, brutal violence, and, of course, Fatalities. It did have an underlying narrative, but the story was minimal and mostly conveyed through character bios and the arcade attract mode. So, there was no canon relationship between Sonya and Johnny, but a vague contrast of personalities that later developed into a romantic arc.

Johnny Cage wasn’t really a subtle character in the original game, and he wasn’t meant to be one from the get-go. He was created as a parody of the ’80s martial arts movie stars, along with their bravado, shades indoors, and a headshot in their back pockets. And just like a martial arts movie star would, Johnny joined the Tournament to prove he’s not just a celebrity, but a real fighter. Sonya Blade, on the other hand, was introduced as a no-nonsense member of Special Forces on a mission to hunt Kano, the cybernetically-enhanced mercenary.

As derived from the original game’s paper-thin narrative, Sonya and Johnny’s relationship was mostly professional, as they fought on the same side in the Tournament. However, the fans picked up on Johnny’s flirtatious attitude and Sonya’s tough exterior, and began speculating as to what might happen between the two, given that “opposites attract.” As the games’ narrative deepened, NetherRealm Studios, then known as Midway Games, picked up on the fandom’s speculation regarding Sonya and Johnny and decided to give their relationship more depth.

But, even then, for most of the original trilogy and 3D-era games, Johnny would flirt with Sonya, and she would immediately shut him down, seemingly annoyed by the very fact that he draws breath. That changed later on, and as the overarching narrative changed, so did their relationship, and what started as a playful antagonism between the two slowly evolved into something more layered. Then came the reboots and retcons, especially in 2011’s Mortal Kombat and its sequel, Mortal Kombat X.

Johnny’s character matured; he became endearing and earnest, less of a stuntman and more of a soldier fighting for Earthrealm. Sonya did remain skeptical of him, but there was a visible shift in their relationship in 2011’s Mortal Kombat (often referred to as MK9). By the game’s end, their flirtation became more mutual, which laid the groundwork for an actual relationship. Sadly, we never got to witness their relationship flourish because parts of MKX take place 25 years after the events of MK9.

MKX revealed that Johnny and Sonya did end up together after MK9, and they had a daughter, Cassie Cage, who became a major playable character in the franchise. Unfortunately, by the time of the game’s events, MKX’s story reveals that Johnny and Sonya are now divorced. But, despite their separation, there’s lingering affection and unresolved tension between the two, especially when it comes to how they parent Cassie.

Mortal Kombat 11 brings time travel to the mix, and Sonya dies by the game’s end. Johnny is left processing the loss of the woman he loved, and their younger selves (who remain present throughout the game) have to process the emotional weight of their future together. The recently released Mortal Kombat 1 reset the timeline once again, and while both Johnny and Sonya exist in this world, their relationship is reset. And this is where the upcoming movie comes into play, as it has the perfect opportunity to show their relationship transitioning from flirting into something more.

We don’t need a full-blown love story shoehorned onto fatalities and gore, but we’d like to see the upcoming Mortal Kombat II give Smooth Johnny and Sonya an opportunity to clash, connect, and crack each other’s defenses. Perhaps a well-timed smirk, or one reluctant team-up, or perhaps a glimpse of something unspoken while saving each other from the brink of destruction. You know, something other than flying kicks and flaming skulls worth rooting for.  

Mortal Kombat II premieres in theaters May 8th.

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