Originally intending to be the martial arts movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme, Johnny Cage was developed when Midway Games could not get the rights to use the actor for the first Mortal Kombat. However, over time, Johnny Cage has become an icon in his own right. Sporting a look similar to Van Damme's outfit from Bloodsport, Cage became an instant fan favorite. He stood out among the rest of the Mortal Kombat cast of ninjas, sorcerers, and Shaolin monks but still represented the era MK was developed uniquely. Cage was a representation of the popularity of martial arts films in Hollywood at the time, embodying the tropes of American movie stars at the time while maintaining a deeper story of a truly talented martial artist under the guise of theatrics.