Exclusive First Look at Mortal Kombat 2: Karl Urban's Johnny Cage, Kitana, and Shao Kahn Revealed

Exclusive First Look at Mortal Kombat 2: Karl Urban's Johnny Cage, Kitana, and Shao Kahn Revealed

Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, and Martyn Ford join the fight in Mortal Kombat 2, alongside returning cast members.

Following the action-packed ending of Mortal Kombat (2021), the franchise is stepping into Hollywood once again. After a fierce battle between Earthrealm and Outworld, former MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan), descendant of Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada), heads to Los Angeles to recruit Johnny Cage for the war ahead.

Johnny Cage, a standout character from the video games and past movie adaptations, was only hinted at in the first film with a poster for his fictional film Citizen Cage. Now, The Boys star Karl Urban officially steps into the role in Mortal Kombat 2, as revealed in an exclusive first look by Entertainment Weekly. The sequel, hitting theaters and IMAX on October 24, 2025, introduces Johnny Cage as part of the Earthrealm team.

"We finally get to see Johnny Cage," says Ed Boon, Mortal Kombat co-creator. "His integration into the story is a major part of this movie. He's a washed-up Hollywood star thrust into this ultra-violent world. Karl adds his own touch to the character, making him fresh and exciting. There's a novelty factor that feels different from the games."

Urban's Johnny will serve as the audience's guide through this new chapter, much like Tan's Cole in the first film. Boon adds that Johnny's introduction in the movie has brought "some of the biggest laughs" in early screenings. However, director Simon McQuoid worked hard to ensure that Johnny's tone struck a balance between humor and depth, avoiding over-the-top silliness while giving the character substance.

In addition to Johnny Cage, Mortal Kombat 2 also introduces new characters. Adeline Rudolph (known for Hellboy: The Crooked Man and Netflix's Resident Evil) joins the cast as fan-favorite Kitana, and Martyn Ford (from House of David and Those About to Die) steps into the role of the formidable Shao Kahn.

Fans of the Mortal Kombat video games will also be excited to know that new, movie-accurate skins of these characters—including Johnny Cage, Kitana, and Shao Kahn—will be available in Mortal Kombat 1 later this year.

The upcoming film picks up where the first left off, with the Mortal Kombat tournament now in full swing. If Earthrealm loses its 10th consecutive tournament, Shao Kahn will invade and take over. As Boon explains, "There's a visual scorekeeping aspect throughout the movie—it's not just a tournament for the sake of it. There are high stakes, and the twists will keep you on your toes."

Other exciting revelations include returning characters like Kano (Josh Lawson) and Kung Lao (Max Huang), despite their deaths in the first movie. Boon teases that their return is explained through Mortal Kombat lore, particularly involving spirits and the NetherRealm.

The ongoing rivalry between Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Sub-Zero also continues, though it won’t dominate the narrative. Boon clarifies that Scorpion's role in the sequel is important, though not central to the main storyline.

The film's expansion includes more female characters, with The Last of Us' Tati Gabrielle joining as Jade, Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel, and others. McQuoid and screenwriter Jeremy Slater aimed to "make everything bigger," enhancing the scale, intensity, and variety of the cinematic experience, especially with the IMAX format. "We went bigger and bolder, really feeding off the history of Mortal Kombat," McQuoid says.

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