"Mortal Kombat 2 Movie Unveils Johnny Cage, Shao Khan, Kitana"

Exciting news for Mortal Kombat fans! The sequel, Mortal Kombat 2, has unveiled the first look at several new characters set to electrify the screen. Entertainment Weekly has released images of Karl Urban as the charismatic Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as the formidable Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as the graceful Kitana, with Hiroyuki Sanada reprising his role as the iconic Scorpion.

Fans had been eagerly anticipating how Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, would embody the egocentric Hollywood star Johnny Cage in live action. A recently released image showcases Urban with Cage's signature hair and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. In the background, we catch glimpses of 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

Via: https://t.co/1CHXzLhFGK#MortalKombat2 pic.twitter.com/7ifeMHzhC6

— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) March 17, 2025

Ed Boon, co-creator of the Mortal Kombat series, 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 explained. He highlighted how Urban's portrayal adds a fresh take on 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 Cage.

Director Simon McQuoid emphasized the depth Urban brings to Johnny Cage, noting that the character could easily become too light-hearted but Urban's casting allows for more nuanced portrayal. "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," McQuoid said.

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 addition to these new faces, Damon Herriman joins the cast as Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang make a surprising return as Kano and Kung Lao, despite their characters' demise in the first film. Boon explained the return by referencing the series' lore, which often brings characters back through spirits and the NetherRealm. "So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that," Boon 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 slated to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising an action-packed continuation of the beloved franchise.