Karl Urban Aspires to Portray Video Game Icon in Film Adaptation
The Boys may be drawing to a close, but Karl Urban is lining up new projects. He plans to keep working and move into more genre roles.
Upcoming role
Urban is set to play Johnny Cage in the upcoming Mortal Kombat II film. The casting confirms his move into high-profile video game adaptations.
Interest in Red Dead Redemption
Karl Urban aspires to portray video game icons in film adaptations. He specifically named John Marston from Red Dead Redemption as a character he’d like to play.
Red Dead Redemption and its sequel are widely praised for their narratives. Fans have long hoped for a screen version of the series.
Which Marston?
John Marston is the playable lead in the first game. He also holds a major role in the second installment.
Marston is 38 years old in the first title. Urban is 53, making him older than that version of the character.
Practical and creative hurdles
Urban told Filmogaz.com that he would love to portray Marston. He acknowledged the age difference, which complicates casting choices.
Any adaptation might choose to tell an original story rather than directly retell the games’ plots. The games already feel cinematic and well structured.
IP and adaptation prospects
Rockstar has shown little appetite for licensing its properties to film or TV. That limits the chances for an on-screen Red Dead project.
Given those factors, the franchise may stay primarily in gaming for now. Still, Urban remains a strong candidate for roles in that universe.
- Role: Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat II.
- Desired role: John Marston from Red Dead Redemption.
- Age note: Marston is 38 in the first game; Urban is 53.
- Studio stance: Rockstar rarely licenses its IP for screen adaptations.
