The eagerly awaited sequel, *Mortal Kombat 2*, has unveiled a sneak peek at several new characters set to grace the screen. Entertainment Weekly shared captivating images of Karl Urban as the egocentric Hollywood star Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford embodying the fearsome Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph portraying the elegant Kitana, alongside the return of Hiroyuki Sanada as the iconic Scorpion.
Fans have been buzzing with excitement over how Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in *The Boys*, would translate into the live-action persona of Johnny Cage. The first image released showcases Urban in a fresh-faced guise, complete with Cage's signature hairstyle and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. In the backdrop, we catch glimpses of 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 Scorpion
Via: https://t.co/1CHXzLhFGK#MortalKombat2 pic.twitter.com/7ifeMHzhC6 — Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) March 17, 2025
In an exclusive with Entertainment Weekly, Ed Boon, the mastermind behind *Mortal Kombat* at NetherRealm Studios, shared insights 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 stated. He highlighted that Urban's portrayal of Cage adds a fresh twist 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, promising a blend of humor and depth.
Director Simon McQuoid echoed Boon's sentiments, explaining the careful balance they aimed to achieve with Johnny Cage's 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."
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.
Adding to the excitement, Damon Herriman joins the cast as 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 explained that the flexible lore of the *Mortal Kombat* video games, which often resurrects characters through spirits and the NetherRealm, allows for such creative liberties. "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 additions, Tati Gabrielle steps into the role of Jade, and Ana Thu Nguyen plays Queen Sindel. *Mortal Kombat 2* is slated to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising fans an exhilarating continuation of the saga.
