Fans of the iconic fighting game series are in for a treat as Mortal Kombat 2 has unveiled an exciting lineup of new characters set to grace the silver screen. Entertainment Weekly has shared exclusive images featuring Karl Urban as the charismatic Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as the formidable Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as the elegant Kitana, along with the return of Hiroyuki Sanada as the iconic Scorpion.
The anticipation surrounding Karl Urban's portrayal of Johnny Cage, especially after his appearance on an in-universe poster for a Cage movie, has been immense. Known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, Urban brings the egocentric Hollywood star to life with Cage's signature hairstyle and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. Behind him, fans can spot Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee reprising her role 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 ScorpionVia: https://t.co/1CHXzLhFGK#MortalKombat2 pic.twitter.com/7ifeMHzhC6
— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) March 17, 2025
Ed Boon, the creative mind behind the Mortal Kombat series, shared insights with Entertainment Weekly on Johnny Cage's integration into the film. "His integration into the Mortal Kombat story and universe is a big part of what this movie explores,” Boon remarked. He described Cage as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing," and praised Urban for adding a unique flair to the character, promising a fresh and novel interpretation.
Boon teased a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for Johnny Cage, while director Simon McQuoid emphasized the balance they sought with the character. "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," McQuoid explained.
Entertainment Weekly also 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, much to the delight of gamers.
In a surprising twist, Damon Herriman, known from Better Man, joins the cast as Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang reprise their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively, despite their characters' demise in the first film. Boon explained that the lore of the Mortal Kombat games allows for the resurrection of characters through spirits and the NetherRealm, saying, "So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that... There are ways to bring dead characters back."
Rounding out the cast are Tati Gabrielle from The Last of Us Season 2 as Jade, and Ana Thu Nguyen from NCIS: Sydney as Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is slated to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising an exhilarating continuation of the saga.
