First Look at Johnny Cage, Shao Khan, and Kitana in Mortal Kombat 2 Movie

Fans of the iconic fighting game franchise are buzzing with excitement as Mortal Kombat 2 has unveiled a tantalizing first look at several new characters set to grace the upcoming movie sequel. Entertainment Weekly recently shared captivating images of Karl Urban as the flamboyant Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as the formidable Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph embodying the graceful Kitana. Returning to the fray is Hiroyuki Sanada, reprising his role as the iconic Scorpion.

The anticipation surrounding Karl Urban's portrayal of Johnny Cage has been immense, especially since his image appeared on 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 showcases Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, rounding out a stellar cast.

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 mastermind behind the Mortal Kombat games at NetherRealm Studios, shared his 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 described Cage as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing," adding that Urban's take on the character would bring a fresh twist. "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 teased a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for Johnny Cage, while director Simon McQuoid emphasized the balance they aimed to strike with the character. "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 the video game Mortal Kombat 1 later this year, much to the delight of gamers.

In a surprising twist, Damon Herriman steps into the role of Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang make an unexpected return as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively, despite their characters meeting their demise in the first film. Boon explained how this is possible, citing the flexible lore of the Mortal Kombat games: "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 as Jade and Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is slated to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising an explosive continuation of the saga that fans won't want to miss.