"Mortal Kombat 2 Movie: Johnny Cage, Shao Khan, Kitana Revealed"

The long-awaited sequel to the Mortal Kombat film has unveiled its first look at several new characters. Entertainment Weekly recently shared captivating 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. These reveals have sparked excitement among fans eager to see these iconic characters come to life.

Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, steps into the shoes of the egocentric Hollywood star Johnny Cage. A promotional image shows Urban sporting Cage's signature hairstyle and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. The background features familiar faces like Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, adding to the anticipation.

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

Ed Boon, the developer from NetherRealm Studios, commented 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 described Cage as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing." Boon praised Urban's unique take on the character, adding, "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 also teased a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for Johnny Cage. Director Simon McQuoid added depth to the 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."

Entertainment Weekly also confirmed that movie-accurate skins for Urban's Johnny, 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 (Better Man) joins the cast as Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang reprise their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively, despite their characters' demise in the first movie. Boon explained this by referencing the game's lore, which often brings characters back through supernatural means. "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 (The Last of Us Season 2) as Jade and Ana Thu Nguyen (NCIS: Sydney) as Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is set to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising an exciting continuation of the iconic franchise.