Fans of the Mortal Kombat franchise have been treated to an exciting first look at several new characters set to appear in the eagerly awaited sequel, Mortal Kombat 2. Entertainment Weekly has unveiled images of Karl Urban stepping into the shoes of the iconic Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford embodying the formidable Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as the graceful Kitana. Hiroyuki Sanada also returns to reprise his role as the fan-favorite Scorpion.
The anticipation surrounding Karl Urban's portrayal of Johnny Cage, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, has been palpable. Fans were curious to see how Urban would bring the egocentric Hollywood star to life, especially after his image appeared in an in-universe poster for a Cage movie. In the newly released image, Urban sports Cage’s signature hairstyle 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
#MortalKombat2 pic.twitter.com/7ifeMHzhC6
— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) March 17, 2025
Entertainment Weekly also shared insights from Ed Boon, the creative force behind the Mortal Kombat video games at NetherRealm Studios, about Johnny Cage's role in the sequel. Boon emphasized the character's integration into the story, describing him as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing." He praised Urban's unique take on the character, adding that it brings a fresh perspective to the role.
"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 stated. He teased a "ridiculously hilarious" character introduction for Johnny Cage. Director Simon McQuoid added that they aimed to balance the character's humor with depth, ensuring he doesn't become too light or throwaway. "The casting of Karl Urban for that role allowed that character to have more depth," McQuoid noted.
In exciting news for gamers, 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.
Additionally, the cast list expands with Damon Herriman (Better Man) taking on the role of Quan Chi, and the surprising return of Josh Lawson and Max Huang as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively, despite their characters' demise in the first film. Boon explained that the fluid nature of the Mortal Kombat lore, which often involves spirits and the NetherRealm, allows for such comebacks: "So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that. There are ways to bring dead characters back."
The ensemble is further enriched by Tati Gabrielle (The Last of Us Season 2) playing Jade and Ana Thu Nguyen (NCIS: Sydney) as Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is slated to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising a thrilling continuation of the saga.
