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

Fans of the Mortal Kombat franchise have been treated to an exciting first look at several new characters featured in the eagerly awaited sequel, Mortal Kombat 2. Entertainment Weekly has shared images showcasing Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, with Hiroyuki Sanada returning to his role as Scorpion.

Speculation had been rife about how Karl Urban, best known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, would embody the flamboyant Hollywood star Johnny Cage. A newly released image captures Urban in classic Cage fashion, complete with the character's signature hair and sunglasses, striking a martial arts pose. In the backdrop, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade can also be seen.

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 creative mind behind Mortal Kombat at NetherRealm Studios, shared insights on Johnny Cage's role in the sequel with Entertainment Weekly. "His integration into the Mortal Kombat story and universe is a big part of what this movie explores," Boon stated. He highlighted that Urban's portrayal adds a unique flair to the character, describing Cage as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing." Boon teased that fans can expect a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction to the character.

Director Simon McQuoid emphasized the importance of depth in Urban's portrayal, noting, "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 the video game Mortal Kombat 1 later this year.

In a surprising twist, Damon Herriman will portray Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang reprise their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively, despite their characters' demise in the first film. Boon explained the resurrection by pointing to the flexible nature of the Mortal Kombat lore, stating, "So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that. There are ways to bring dead characters back."

Completing the cast, Tati Gabrielle will take on the role of Jade, and Ana Thu Nguyen will play Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is set to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising an action-packed continuation of the iconic franchise.