Karl Urban has somehow become the go-to actor for blockbuster franchises to the point that he has appeared in almost every major franchise over the past few decades. While he just wrapped up his part as Billy Butcher in The Boys, there is no dearth of big league franchise roles for the New Zealander.
From gallivanting across Middle-earth to beaming into planets boldly, Urban has put his hands on everything blockbuster. The Boys was just one among the many franchises, though it is arguably his most career-defining role so far. Here are all the big league franchises that Urban has starred in.
Show NameThe BoysCreated ByEric KripkeBased OnThe Boys by Garth Ennis and Darick RobertsonMain CastKarl Urban, Jack Quiad, Antony Starr, Erin MoriartyNumber of Seasons5Streaming OnAmazon Prime Video
1. The Lord of the Rings
Karl Urban strided into Middle-Earth as Éomer in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The masterpiece trilogy by Peter Jackson had an ensemble cast filled with legends and newbies, and Urban held his ground with stalwart actors like Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Viggo Mortensen, and more.
This was his first role in a blockbuster franchise, and he returned in Return of the King (no, he was not the king). His presence in the Rohirrim storyline gave it a lot of gravitas.
2. MCU
Karl Urban in Thor: Ragnarok | Credits: Marvel Studios
At this point, almost every known actor has had a role in the MCU. Karl Urban only featured in one movie in the franchise, Thor: Ragnarok. He played Skurge, a right-hand man to Cate Blanchett’s Hela, who turns at the last moment and saves Asgard. Urban did not return to the franchise and possibly got busy with The Boys.
Taika Waititi’s film reinvented the Thor films and gave the character a much-needed push as a solo hero after the debacle that was Thor: The Dark World. Urban has less screentime than in his other franchise appearances, but he makes himself known.
3. Star Trek
Dr. McCoy in Star Trek: Beyond | Credits: Paramount Pictures
Dr. Leonard McCoy, or Bones, is the resident chief medical officer aboard the Enterprise. In the original Star Trek series, McCoy, Spock, and Kirk are a golden trio and lead many of the episodes of the show. Karl Urban had big shoes to fill after actor DeForest Kelley made himself irreplaceable in the role.
J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot gave the franchise the blockbuster treatment and reintroduced it to a new era. Urban had a surprisingly non-action role in the franchise, though he did have his share of jumping and fighting. Compared to his other big franchise roles, this one required more brains than brawn. He was in all three movies of the reboot, even Star Trek: Beyond, the worst movie of the Kelvin franchise.
4. Bourne
Kirill in The Bourne Supremacy | Credits: Universal Pictures
Much like the MCU, Karl Urban appeared in the middle of the Bourne franchise and never returned. This is one of the actor’s earlier roles, playing Russian Federal agent and assassin, Kirill, in The Bourne Supremacy.
This was the movie that brought together the legendary duo of Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass, and the infamous shaky-cam action style. Urban had a fairly stereotypical role as a Russian assassin in an espionage action thriller. Not much to do here, but Urban still makes a mark and commands attention to himself whenever he is on screen.
5. Mortal Kombat
Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat II | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures
This is his most recent foray into the video game adaptation. Karl Urban plays Johnny Cage, the protagonist and MMA fighter turned actor in Mortal Kombat II. Urban plays the uber cool Cage with ease and comfort, fitting right into the ridiculously cool world of the video game franchise. The movie itself was deemed to be better than its predecessor.
The film was the first we saw of Johnny Cage in the reboot franchise, and writer Jeremy Slater confirmed that a third movie was in development. The ending of Mortal Kombat II hinted at more adventures for Johnny Cage with the rest of the rebels. Only time will tell if this was another one-off project for Urban.
6. Riddick
Commander Vaako in Riddick | Credits: Universal Pictures
Before he became the face of the Fast & Furious franchise, Vin Diesel headlined the Riddick film series, which saved him from going broke. The sci-fi horror films saw Diesel play Riddick, an alien criminal on the run from bounty hunters. Karl Urban’s Vaako is introduced in the second movie, The Chronicles of Riddick. He is a ruthless and ambitious necromonger who will stop at nothing.
Urban returned to the role in the third film, Riddick. While Diesel takes most of the frame, Urban brought a sense of venomousness to the role of Vaako that acts as a decent precursor to his unhinged performance as Billy Butcher in The Boys. While the franchise seems to be in limbo and a fourth film is in development, Urban’s involvement is yet to be confirmed.
Karl Urban has unknowingly become a franchise favorite, with most of the blockbuster franchises he has been part of enjoying longevity. Even if his roles are small in some of these films, he makes sure to give it his best and command attention to himself when he is in the frame. This talent of his is what probably attracts such big franchises to him.
FranchiseMovieCharacterThe Lord of the RingsThe Two Towers, The Return of the KingÉomerMCUThor: RagnarokSkurgeStar TrekStar Trek, Into Darkness, BeyondDr. Leonard McCoyBourneThe Bourne SupremacyKirillMortal KombatMortal Kombat IIJohnny CageRiddickThe Chronicles of Riddick, RiddickVaako
If you have any questions about Karl Urban’s performances, refer to the FAQs below.
Which franchise made Karl Urban most famous?
While Karl Urban had major visibility from The Lord of the Rings and Star Trek, many modern viewers associate him most strongly with Billy Butcher in The Boys. The role transformed him into a mainstream streaming-era icon.
Was Karl Urban part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Yes. He played Skurge in Thor: Ragnarok alongside Chris Hemsworth and Cate Blanchett.
What was Karl Urban’s first major franchise role?
One of Urban’s earliest notable franchise appearances came in Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys during the 1990s.
Why do fans love Karl Urban in franchise films?
Fans often praise Urban for bringing grounded intensity to larger-than-life worlds. Whether he’s in fantasy, science fiction, or superhero stories, he gives characters emotional realism beneath the spectacle.
Has Karl Urban starred in both DC and Marvel-related projects?
Yes. He portrayed Judge Dredd from DC-associated comics and Skurge in Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok. He also starred in The Boys, which satirizes the superhero genre overall.
Which is your favorite Karl Urban performance? Comment below.
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