Fans of the iconic fighting game series have been eagerly awaiting more details about the upcoming sequel to the Mortal Kombat movie, and they've just been treated to a first look at some of the new characters set to grace the screen. Entertainment Weekly has unveiled images of Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, alongside the return of Hiroyuki Sanada reprising his role as Scorpion. These images have sparked excitement and speculation among the fanbase, especially regarding how Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, will portray the egocentric Hollywood star Johnny Cage.
In one of the released images, Urban is seen sporting Johnny Cage's signature hairstyle and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. The background of the image features familiar faces from the first film, including Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, hinting at their involvement in the sequel.
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 ScorpionVia: https://t.co/1CHXzLhFGK#MortalKombat2 pic.twitter.com/7ifeMHzhC6 — Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) March 17, 2025
Ed Boon, co-creator of the Mortal Kombat series and a key figure at NetherRealm Studios, shared insights on Johnny Cage's role in the sequel with Entertainment Weekly. "His integration into the Mortal Kombat story and universe is a big part of what this movie explores," Boon stated. He emphasized the unique approach to Johnny Cage's character, noting that Karl Urban's portrayal brings a fresh perspective while maintaining the essence of the character. "He's a washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing. 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 also hinted at a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for Johnny Cage, promising fans a blend of humor and action. Director Simon McQuoid further 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 character reveals, 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, bridging the gap between the film and the game.
The sequel also introduces Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, with Josh Lawson and Max Huang reprising their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively, despite their characters' demise in the first film. Boon explained the creative liberty taken with the characters' return, citing the lore of the Mortal Kombat universe: "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 saga.
