Mortal Kombat 2 offers a thrilling first glimpse of several new characters joining the sequel's action-packed roster. Entertainment Weekly unveiled images showcasing Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, alongside the returning Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion.
Fans have eagerly awaited Karl Urban's portrayal of the egocentric Hollywood star, Johnny Cage, following his appearance in an in-universe movie poster. The image reveals a fresh-faced Urban, perfectly embodying Cage's signature hairstyle and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. The background features familiar faces: Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade.
First looks at Johnny Cage, Shao Kahn, Kitana and Scorpion in the Mortal Kombat 2 film:
Karl Urban ➡️ Johnny Cage Martyn Ford ➡️ Shao Kahn Adeline Rudolph ➡️ Kitana Hiroyuki Sanada reprises as Scorpion
Via: https://t.co/1CHXzLhFGK #MortalKombat2 pic.twitter.com/7ifeMHzhC6
— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) March 17, 2025
Ed Boon, from NetherRealm Studios, offered insights into Johnny Cage's role, stating, "His integration into the Mortal Kombat story and universe is a big part of what this movie explores. He's a washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing. Karl's depiction of Johnny Cage is different than our games in some ways. He's adding his own flair to it, but I think it'll feel fresh. There's like a novelty factor there." Boon teased a "ridiculously hilarious" character introduction for Cage. Director Simon McQuoid added, "We wanted a character that wasn't just completely silly, comic book… It's a character that could instantly go there and become too light and throwaway if we were to lean too much into the kind of cheese. The casting of Karl Urban for that role allowed that character to have more depth."
Entertainment Weekly confirmed that movie-accurate skins for Urban's Johnny Cage, Rudolph's Kitana, and Ford's Shao Kahn will be coming to Mortal Kombat 1 later this year.
Adding to the excitement, Damon Herriman (Better Man) portrays Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang surprisingly reprise their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, despite their demise in the first film. Boon explained this resurrection, referencing the game's lore: "So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that. There are ways to bring dead characters back."
Finally, Tati Gabrielle (The Last of Us Season 2) plays Jade, and Ana Thu Nguyen (NCIS: Sydney) portrays Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is set to hit theaters on October 24, 2025.
