- Hollywood wash-up Johnny Cage introduced
- Shao Kahn and Kitana also set to feature
- Fan favorites Scorpion and Sub-Zero return
Mortal Kombat 2 is set to hit theaters on 24 October 2025, and the first images from the highly anticipated sequel have just been released.
As reported by EW, the photos reveal The Boys star Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, a fan-favorite character from the video game franchise. The photos also show Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as Kitana.
Read more: Mortal Kombat 2 gets October 2025 release date
Speaking on Cage’s introduction, Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon told EW “His integration into the Mortal Kombat story and universe is a big part of what this movie explores. He’s a washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing”.
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The stakes are high in the sequel film and Cage will serve as the audience’s lens into the action. If Earthrealm loses its tenth consecutive tournament against Outworld, sorcerer Shao Kahn will invade and take over the Earth. “They keep score throughout the movie,” Boon reveals of the tournament. “There’s a visual representation of who is winning…. It’s not just a tournament for the sake of a tournament. There are huge consequences, so you really are keeping score. And there are a lot of twists in it that keep you on your toes.”
Here’s a run down of the new characters set to feature in the movie, as well as the returning favorites.
Johnny Cage played by Karl Urban
Cage was teased in Mortal Kombat (2021) through a poster for his Citizen Cage flick, but now Karl Urban brings the struggling Hollywood actor to our screens.
“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”, said Boon.
Urban is best known for playing Billy Butcher in Amazon Prime’s hit superhero series, The Boys. He previously portrayed John “Reaper” Grimm in another video game film adaptation Doom (2005).
Shao Kahn played by Martyn Ford
Shao Kahn, the powerful tyrant of the Outworld throne is another new addition to the film. He’s going to serve as the main antagonist. Martyn Ford’s Shao Kahn appears menacingly with intimidating body armour and glowing red eyes.
Ford is also a bodybuilder and former MMA fighter. He gained fame for his towering physique and has featured in films such as F9: The Fast Saga (2021), Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017), and Boyka: Undisputed (2016).
Kitana played by Adeline Rudolph
Fans have also been given a glimpse of newcomer Kitana. Kitana, who uses steel fans as her primary weapon, is being portrayed by Adeline Rudolph. She gained recognition for playing Agatha in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018–2020) and Minerva Marble in Riverdale (2021). She also starred as Billie Wesker in Netflix’s Resident Evil (2022) series.
Other newcomers joining the melee include Tati Gabrielle as Jade, Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, Desmond Chiam as King Jerrod, and Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel.
Scorpion played by Hiroyuki Sanada
GET OVER HERE! That’s right, Hiroyuki Sanada is reprising his role as Scorpion for the sequel. Fans will be pleased to hear that Scorpion and Sub-Zero are still at it in Mortal Kombat 2, though it’s not the film’s central narrative.
Boon said of Scorpion, “He’s certainly making appearances that are significant and necessary for the progress of other storylines. He plays a different role. He’s not part of the ‘Super Friends’ trying to defeat Shao Kahn, but his appearance is key and it is very essential for certain parts.”
The cast also sees the return of Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han and Sub-Zero, and Max Huang as Kung Lao.
Returning director Simon McQuoid has not held back for the sequel movie. “What I realized was go bigger, go bolder, don’t hold back, and really feed off the history of Mortal Kombat more. Just let it rip, and that’s what we’ve done.”
