Johnny Cage, Shao Khan, Kitana Debut in Mortal Kombat 2 Film

Fans of the iconic fighting game series can finally get a glimpse of the new characters set to appear in the upcoming sequel, *Mortal Kombat 2*. Entertainment Weekly has shared first-look images of several key additions to the film's roster, including Karl Urban as the charismatic Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as the imposing Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as the elegant Kitana. Returning to the fray is Hiroyuki Sanada, reprising his role as the fiery Scorpion.

The anticipation surrounding Karl Urban's portrayal of Johnny Cage has been high, especially after fans caught a glimpse of him in an in-universe poster for a Cage movie. The newly released image showcases Urban sporting Cage's signature look—complete with his trademark hair and sunglasses—striking a classic martial arts pose. In the background, familiar faces from the first film are visible, including Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade.

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

Via: https://t.co/1CHXzLhFGK#MortalKombat2 pic.twitter.com/7ifeMHzhC6

— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) March 17, 2025

Entertainment Weekly also featured a statement from Ed Boon, the co-creator of the *Mortal Kombat* series and head of NetherRealm Studios, discussing Johnny Cage's role in the sequel. Boon emphasized Cage's unique integration into the story, saying, "His integration into the Mortal Kombat story and universe is a big part of what this movie explores. 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 also teased a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for Johnny Cage, hinting at the character's comedic potential. Director Simon McQuoid shared his vision for the character, stating, "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 character reveals, Entertainment Weekly 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.

The sequel also sees the return of some surprising faces. Damon Herriman takes on the role of Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang reprise their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively, despite their characters' apparent demise in the first film. Boon explained the creative freedom this allows, saying, "So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that. There are ways to bring dead characters back."

Rounding out the cast are Tati Gabrielle as Jade and Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel, adding more depth to the already rich ensemble. *Mortal Kombat 2* is slated to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising fans a thrilling continuation of the saga.