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

Fans of the Mortal Kombat series have been treated to an exciting sneak peek at several new characters set to make their debut in the upcoming sequel, 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 returning Hiroyuki Sanada reprising his role as Scorpion.

The curiosity surrounding Karl Urban's portrayal of Johnny Cage, the beloved egocentric Hollywood star from the Mortal Kombat universe, has been high since his image appeared on an in-universe poster for a Cage movie. The newly released image showcases Urban sporting Cage's iconic hairstyle and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. In the background, we can spot 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

Ed Boon, the mastermind behind the Mortal Kombat video games, shared insights with Entertainment Weekly 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 further elaborated on Urban's unique take on the character, saying, "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 flair to it, but I think it'll feel fresh. There's like a novelty factor in there."

Boon hinted at a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for Johnny Cage, while director Simon McQuoid emphasized the importance of balancing humor and depth in the character's portrayal. "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," McQuoid explained.

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 video game Mortal Kombat 1 later this year.

In addition to the new characters, Damon Herriman will portray Quan Chi, and there will be a surprising return of Josh Lawson and Max Huang as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively. These characters met their demise in the first film, but Boon clarified how their comeback is feasible within the Mortal Kombat universe. "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, Tati Gabrielle will take on the role of Jade, while Ana Thu Nguyen will play Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is slated to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising fans an action-packed continuation of the iconic franchise.