First Look at Johnny Cage, Shao Khan, and Kitana in Mortal Kombat 2 Movie

Fans of the iconic fighting game series have been eagerly awaiting news on the sequel to the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, and now, they've been treated to a first look at several new characters set to appear in Mortal Kombat 2. Entertainment Weekly has unveiled images of Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, alongside the return of Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion.

Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, steps into the shoes of the egocentric Hollywood star Johnny Cage. Fans had been curious about how Urban would embody this fan-favorite character, especially after his image appeared in an in-universe poster for a Cage movie. The newly released image showcases Urban with Cage's signature hair and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. In the background, we see 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

Entertainment Weekly also shared a quote from Ed Boon, the co-creator of the Mortal Kombat series and a key figure at NetherRealm Studios, discussing 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 described Cage as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing," and praised Urban's unique take on the character, adding that it brings a fresh perspective while maintaining the essence of Cage. Boon teased a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for the character.

Director Simon McQuoid emphasized the balance they aimed to strike with Cage's character, saying, "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."

In addition to the new characters, Entertainment Weekly confirmed that movie-accurate skins for Urban's Johnny Cage, Rudolph's Kitana, and Ford's Shao Kahn will be available in the video game Mortal Kombat 1 later this year.

The sequel also sees the return of some characters who met their demise in the first film. Damon Herriman plays Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang reprise their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively. Ed Boon explained that the lore of the Mortal Kombat games, which often brings characters back from the dead, allows for such returns: "So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that," he said. "There are ways to bring dead characters back."

New additions to the cast include Tati Gabrielle as Jade and Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is set to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising fans an exciting continuation of the brutal and thrilling saga.