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

Fans of the iconic fighting game franchise are buzzing with excitement as Mortal Kombat 2 offers a tantalizing first glimpse at several new characters set to grace the sequel. Entertainment Weekly recently unveiled images of Karl Urban stepping into the shoes of the charismatic Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford embodying the imposing Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph portraying the regal Kitana, alongside the return of Hiroyuki Sanada as the fan-favorite Scorpion.

The anticipation surrounding Karl Urban's portrayal of Johnny Cage has been immense, especially after his image surfaced in an in-universe poster for a Cage movie. In the newly released image, Urban sports Cage's signature hair and sunglasses, striking a quintessential martial arts pose. The background features returning cast members Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, adding to the excitement.

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

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#MortalKombat2 pic.twitter.com/7ifeMHzhC6

— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) March 17, 2025

Entertainment Weekly also shared insights from Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm's Ed Boon 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 remarked. He highlighted Urban's unique take on the character, describing Cage as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing." Boon praised Urban's fresh approach, noting, "He's adding his own flare to it, but I think it'll feel fresh. There's like a novelty factor in there."

Boon teased a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for Johnny Cage, while director Simon McQuoid emphasized the depth Urban brings to the role. "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," McQuoid explained. "The casting of Karl Urban for that role allowed that character to have more depth."

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, further bridging the connection between the film and the game.

In a surprising twist, Damon Herriman 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 film. Boon addressed this by citing the franchise's flexible lore, stating, "So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that. There are ways to bring dead characters back."

Rounding out the new additions, Tati Gabrielle takes on the role of Jade, and Ana Thu Nguyen steps into the shoes of Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is slated to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising an exhilarating continuation of the saga.