Fans of the iconic fighting game franchise have been eagerly awaiting the sequel to the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie, and now they have their first glimpse of new characters joining the fray. Entertainment Weekly has released images showcasing Karl Urban as the charismatic Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as the formidable Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as the elegant Kitana, with Hiroyuki Sanada reprising his role as the fan-favorite Scorpion.
Speculation about how Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, would embody the egocentric Hollywood star Johnny Cage has been rife since his image appeared on an in-universe movie poster. The released image reveals Urban sporting Cage's signature hairstyle and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose, with Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade visible in the background.
First looks at Johnny Cage, Shao Kahn, 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
— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) March 17, 2025
Entertainment Weekly also shared a statement from NetherRealm's Ed Boon, the mastermind behind the Mortal Kombat games, 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 described Cage as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing," and praised Karl Urban for bringing a unique flair to the character, promising a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction.
Director Simon McQuoid added that they aimed to create a Johnny Cage who isn't just a comic relief character but one with depth, thanks to Urban's casting. "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 stated.
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 game Mortal Kombat 1 later this year, exciting fans who enjoy the crossover between film and video games.
In other casting news, Damon Herriman, known for Better Man, will portray Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang make a surprising return as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively, despite their characters meeting their demise in the first film. Ed Boon addressed this by referencing the series' lore, which frequently revives characters through spirits and the NetherRealm: "So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that. There are ways to bring dead characters back."
Additionally, Tati Gabrielle from The Last of Us Season 2 will play Jade, and Ana Thu Nguyen from NCIS: Sydney will take on the role of Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is set to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising an explosive continuation of the saga.
