Excitement is building among *Mortal Kombat* fans as the highly anticipated sequel, *Mortal Kombat 2*, offers a first glimpse at several new characters joining the film. Entertainment Weekly unveiled images of Karl Urban as the charismatic Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as the formidable Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as the elegant Kitana. These newcomers will share the screen with the returning Hiroyuki Sanada, reprising his role as the iconic Scorpion.

Fans had been eagerly speculating how Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in *The Boys*, would embody the egocentric Hollywood star Johnny Cage after his likeness appeared on an in-universe movie poster. The newly released image showcases Urban in a fresh-faced portrayal, complete with Cage’s signature hairstyle and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. In the background, familiar faces such as Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade can be seen.

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: Entertainment Weekly

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Entertainment Weekly also featured a quote from Ed Boon, co-creator of the *Mortal Kombat* series and a key figure at NetherRealm Studios, discussing 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: "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 hinted at 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 Cage, 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 (known for *Better Man*) will portray the sinister Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang reprise their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, despite their characters' demise in the first film. Ed Boon addressed this creative choice by citing the series' lore: "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 (from *The Last of Us Season 2*) as Jade and Ana Thu Nguyen (*NCIS: Sydney*) as Queen Sindel. *Mortal Kombat 2* is set to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising a thrilling continuation of the saga.