Fans of the Mortal Kombat franchise have been treated to an exciting sneak peek at the new characters joining the cast of the upcoming sequel, Mortal Kombat 2. Entertainment Weekly has unveiled images showcasing 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.
The anticipation around Karl Urban’s portrayal of Johnny Cage has been immense, especially after fans saw him featured in an in-universe poster for a Cage movie. The first look reveals Urban sporting Johnny Cage's signature look with his iconic hair and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. In the background of the image, you can spot Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, all returning from the first film.
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
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Ed Boon, co-creator of the Mortal Kombat series, shared insights with Entertainment Weekly on 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 explained. He highlighted that Urban's portrayal brings a fresh twist to the character, describing Cage as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing." Boon teased that fans can expect a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for the character.
Director Simon McQuoid added his thoughts on the casting, stating, "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 also confirmed that movie-accurate skins for Urban's Johnny Cage, Rudolph's Kitana, and Ford's Shao Kahn will be available in the video game Mortal Kombat 1 later this year.
Adding to the excitement, Damon Herriman will portray Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang make a surprising return as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively, despite their demise in the first film. Boon addressed this by referencing the game's lore: "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 new cast members, Tati Gabrielle will play Jade, and Ana Thu Nguyen will take on the role of Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is set to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising a thrilling continuation of the saga.
