"Mortal Kombat 2 Movie: First Look at Johnny Cage, Shao Khan, Kitana"

Fans of the iconic fighting game series have been eagerly awaiting news on the sequel to the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, and now they have their first glimpse at some of the new characters joining the fray. Entertainment Weekly has unveiled images of Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, with Hiroyuki Sanada reprising his role as Scorpion.

The casting of Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, as the egocentric Hollywood star Johnny Cage has been a topic of much speculation among fans. The newly released image showcases Urban in a fresh-faced look, complete with Cage's signature hairstyle and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. In the background, we see familiar faces from the first film, including 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

Ed Boon, the co-creator of the Mortal Kombat series, shared his thoughts 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 highlighted that Urban's portrayal of Cage brings a fresh take to the character, describing him as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing." Boon teased a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for Cage, while director Simon McQuoid emphasized the importance of balancing humor with depth in Urban's performance.

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, exciting fans of the video game series.

The sequel also sees the return of some characters thought to be dead from the first film. Damon Herriman joins the cast as Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang reprise their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively. Boon explained that the lore of the Mortal Kombat games, which often involves spirits and the NetherRealm, allows for the return of deceased characters.

Rounding out the new additions to 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 more thrilling action and deeper exploration of the beloved franchise's universe.