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

The much-anticipated sequel, *Mortal Kombat 2*, has unveiled the first look at several new characters joining the fray. Entertainment Weekly shared exclusive images of Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, alongside the return of Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the live-action portrayal of Johnny Cage, especially since Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in *The Boys*, was cast as the iconic, egocentric Hollywood star.

In the captivating image released, Urban sports Johnny Cage's signature hair and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. The background features familiar faces: Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade. This exciting visual gives fans a taste of what's to come in the sequel.

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 co-creator of the *Mortal Kombat* series from NetherRealm Studios, provided insights into 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 highlighted how Urban's portrayal of Johnny Cage introduces a fresh 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 flair 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 sought 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."

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 *Mortal Kombat 1* later this year, exciting gamers and movie fans alike.

In a surprising twist, Damon Herriman from *Better Man* will play Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang return as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively, despite their characters' demise in the first film. Boon explained how this is possible, citing the series' flexible 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, Tati Gabrielle from *The Last of Us Season 2* will portray Jade, and Ana Thu Nguyen from *NCIS: Sydney* will play Queen Sindel. *Mortal Kombat 2* is set to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising an exhilarating continuation of the iconic franchise.