Johnny Cage, Shao Khan, Kitana Debut in Mortal Kombat 2 Film

Fans of the iconic fighting game series have been eagerly awaiting updates on the sequel to the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, and they're now getting their first look at some of the new characters set to appear in Mortal Kombat 2. Entertainment Weekly has released images showcasing Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, alongside the returning Hiroyuki Sanada reprising his role as Scorpion.

The anticipation around Karl Urban's portrayal of Johnny Cage, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, has been particularly high. Fans were curious to see how Urban would embody the egocentric Hollywood star after his image appeared in an in-universe poster for a Cage movie. The newly released image shows a fresh-faced Urban sporting Cage's trademark hair and sunglasses, striking a typical martial arts pose. In the background, we can spot Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade.

First looks at Johnny Cage, Shao Khan, Kitana and Scorpion in Mortal Kombat 2 film:

Karl Urban ➡️ Johnny Cage
Martyn Ford ➡️ Shao Kahn
Adeline Rudolph ➡️ Kitana
Hiroyuki Sanada reprises as Scorpion

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#MortalKombat2 pic.twitter.com/7ifeMHzhC6
— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) March 17, 2025

Entertainment Weekly also shared a quote from Ed Boon, the co-creator of the Mortal Kombat series and a key figure at NetherRealm Studios, discussing Johnny Cage's role in the sequel. "His integration into the Mortal Kombat story and universe is a big part of what this movie explores," Boon stated. He described Cage as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing," and praised Urban's unique take on the character, adding, "Karl, his depiction of Johnny Cage is different than our games in some ways. He's adding his own flare to it, but I think it'll feel fresh. There's like a novelty factor in there."

Boon teased that fans can expect a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for Johnny Cage. Director Simon McQuoid elaborated on the character's depth, saying, "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."

In addition to the new characters, Entertainment Weekly confirmed that movie-accurate skins for Urban's Johnny Cage, Rudolph's Kitana, and Ford's Shao Kahn will be available in Mortal Kombat 1 later this year.

The sequel also introduces Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang make a surprising return as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively, despite their characters' demise in the first film. Boon explained that the lore of the Mortal Kombat video games, which often brings characters back from the dead, allows for such returns: "So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that," he said. "There are ways to bring dead characters back."

Rounding out the cast are Tati Gabrielle as Jade and Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is set to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising fans an exciting continuation of the brutal and thrilling saga.