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

The highly anticipated sequel to Mortal Kombat has unveiled exciting new characters through exclusive images released by Entertainment Weekly. Fans can now get their first look at Karl Urban as the egocentric Hollywood star Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as the imposing Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as the graceful Kitana. Hiroyuki Sanada also returns to reprise his role as the iconic Scorpion.

Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, has been a subject of curiosity among Mortal Kombat enthusiasts, eager to see how he would embody Johnny Cage. The released image showcases Urban in a quintessential martial arts pose, sporting Cage's signature hairstyle and sunglasses, set against a backdrop featuring Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade.

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 developer behind Mortal Kombat at NetherRealm, shared insights 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 stated. He highlighted Urban's portrayal as adding a unique twist to the character, describing Cage as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing." Boon also teased a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for the character.

Director Simon McQuoid emphasized the depth Urban brings to Johnny Cage, aiming to balance the character's comic elements with a more substantial presence. "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," McQuoid explained.

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, adding an exciting crossover for fans of the game and the film.

In other casting news, Damon Herriman will portray the sinister Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang will reprise their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, respectively, despite their characters' demise in the first movie. Ed Boon explained that the lore of the Mortal Kombat video games, which often bends the rules around life and death, allows for their return. "So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that," he noted. "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 set to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising an action-packed continuation of the beloved franchise.