"Johnny Cage, Shao Khan, Kitana Unveiled in Mortal Kombat 2 Film"

Fans of the iconic fighting game series can finally feast their eyes on new characters set to appear in the much-anticipated sequel, Mortal Kombat 2. Entertainment Weekly has unveiled the first looks at Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, along with the return of Hiroyuki Sanada reprising his role as Scorpion.

The excitement around Karl Urban's portrayal of Johnny Cage, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, has been palpable. Fans got a sneak peek of Urban in a quintessential martial arts pose, complete with Cage's signature hair and sunglasses. The background of the image also teases the return 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

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#MortalKombat2 pic.twitter.com/7ifeMHzhC6

— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) March 17, 2025

Ed Boon, the creative force behind the Mortal Kombat series from 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 Urban's unique take on the character, adding a fresh perspective while maintaining the essence of Johnny Cage. "He's a washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing. Karl, 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 teased a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for Johnny Cage, while director Simon McQuoid emphasized the importance of depth in the 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, bridging the gap between the film and the game.

In a surprising twist, Damon Herriman will play Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang reprise their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, despite their characters' demise in the first film. Boon explained this resurrection by referencing the game's lore, which often plays fast and loose with character mortality. "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 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 exciting continuation of the brutal and magical world of Mortal Kombat.