Karl Urban admits he was initially 'terrified' of 'Mortal Kombat II' role

Stepping into the world of "Mortal Kombat," Karl Urban transforms into martial arts film star Johnny Cage, but that transformation was far from easy.

During the virtual press conference for the upcoming sequel film, "Mortal Kombat II," Urban said the experience was "hands-down the most challenging physical undertaking that I've ever embarked on when it comes to a production."

"The skill set required was definitely an exponential learning curve that I have never encountered," he said.

"I'd be lying to say that I didn't feel a little bit terrified," he added. "I was stepping into a movie with martial artists that are accomplished."

However, he said he didn't waste a single minute.

When he arrived in Brisbane in Australia for filming, he was driven straight to a stunt rehearsal.

"I still had my bags," he said teasingly. 

"Mortal Kombat" being a popular and well-loved franchise, Urban said he and the rest of the cast recognized the importance to "get it right."

"This is a film that has been made by fans and I think all of the cast felt the responsibility of that and invested a significant amount of time and energy into training," he said.

That said, Urban said he felt the pressure from the get-go.

However, in that situation, "all you can do is channel all of your energy away from those fears and anxieties and focus it on the work, focus it on the preparation."

For him, that manifested in a deep dive into the world of martial arts.

Urban shared that he went to a karate tournament in New Zealand and observed the culture. He then started training and "learning how to move." He trained his agility and did speed drills.

Moreover, he invested time and energy into learning the world of "Mortal Kombat," studying the game's lore and figuring out "what's canon."

"How can I apply what I've learned over here to the character that's written in the script?" Urban recalled asking himself.

He added that the good thing about how director Simon McQuoid approached the character of Johnny Cage is that he turned him into a dispirited character.

"It gave not only me but also the audience somewhere to go with the character, gave it a journey," Urban said.

Overall, the actor and the rest of the cast are "supremely delighted with the end result."

"So yeah, we're super excited."

The sequel to the live-action film "Mortal Kombat" released in 2021, "Mortal Kombat II" centers on Johnny Cage, a has-been actor chosen to fight at a deadly tournament alongside other champions.

The film follows the champions as they attempt to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.

"Mortal Kombat II" arrives in cinemas on May 6.

"Mortal Kombat," created by Ed Boon and John Tobia, is a popular video game series that first launched in 1992. —JCB, GMA News