MORTAL KOMBAT 2 Photos Reveal Karl Urban's Johnny Cage, Kitana, and Shao Kahn; New Details Shared!

Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we have our first look at Mortal Kombat 2! These images revealKarl Urban's Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion.While I wasn’t a fan of the last Mortal Kombat movie that was released, it’s hard not to be excited to see Karl Urban as Johnny Cage. For me, that’s the main selling point of the film and the only reason why I’ll watch it.Ed Boon, Mortal Kombat co-creator and head of gaming developer NetherRealm Studios talked about Urban’s Johnny Cage, saying: "You finally get to see Johnny Cage. 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. “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 explains that Johnny is the focus on this new story. He calls the character's introduction "ridiculously hilarious," having incited "some of the biggest laughs" from the early screenings of the film.Director Simon McQuoid, added: "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."Other characters in the film include Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jackson "Jax" Briggs, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero, and Sanada as Scorpion.It was also revealed that Damon Herriman is returning as Netherrealm demon Quan Chi along with Josh Lawson and Max Huang, as Kano and Kung Lao, even thought they died in the last movie.Boone talked about how those characters return, saying: "I can say Josh Lawson doesn't play Kano's twin. We've killed a number of characters who are in Mortal Kombat 1 and our latest games. So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that. There are ways to bring dead characters back."As for the rivalry between Scorpion and Sub-Zero, Boon says: "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 first film saw the Outworld sorcerer Shang Tsung (Chin Hang) and his forces attempt to wipe out Earth's champions before the big Mortal Kombat tournament between fighters from different realms. “That tournament is now officially here in the sequel, and if Earthrealm loses its 10th consecutive tournament against Outworld, then Shao Kahn will invade Earth and take over.”Boone talks about the tournament saying: "They keep score throughout the movie. 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."McQuoid went on to confirm: "We go to lots of different realms, so that in itself gives the film a very distinct and varied visual approach." That approach involves the use of IMAX, which McQuoid says allowed them to "be bolder and swing harder. 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."Are you excited about Mortal Komabt 2!? View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize

Mar 17, 2025 - 19:24

MORTAL KOMBAT 2 Photos Reveal Karl Urban's Johnny Cage, Kitana, and Shao Kahn; New Details Shared!

Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we have our first look at Mortal Kombat 2! These images revealKarl Urban's Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion.

While I wasn’t a fan of the last Mortal Kombat movie that was released, it’s hard not to be excited to see Karl Urban as Johnny Cage. For me, that’s the main selling point of the film and the only reason why I’ll watch it.

Ed Boon, Mortal Kombat co-creator and head of gaming developer NetherRealm Studios talked about Urban’s Johnny Cage, saying:

"You finally get to see Johnny Cage. 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.

“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 explains that Johnny is the focus on this new story. He calls the character's introduction "ridiculously hilarious," having incited "some of the biggest laughs" from the early screenings of the film.

Director Simon McQuoid, added: "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."

Other characters in the film include Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jackson "Jax" Briggs, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero, and Sanada as Scorpion.

It was also revealed that Damon Herriman is returning as Netherrealm demon Quan Chi along with Josh Lawson and Max Huang, as Kano and Kung Lao, even thought they died in the last movie.

Boone talked about how those characters return, saying: "I can say Josh Lawson doesn't play Kano's twin. We've killed a number of characters who are in Mortal Kombat 1 and our latest games. So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that. There are ways to bring dead characters back."

As for the rivalry between Scorpion and Sub-Zero, Boon says: "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 first film saw the Outworld sorcerer Shang Tsung (Chin Hang) and his forces attempt to wipe out Earth's champions before the big Mortal Kombat tournament between fighters from different realms. “That tournament is now officially here in the sequel, and if Earthrealm loses its 10th consecutive tournament against Outworld, then Shao Kahn will invade Earth and take over.”

Boone talks about the tournament saying: "They keep score throughout the movie. 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."

McQuoid went on to confirm: "We go to lots of different realms, so that in itself gives the film a very distinct and varied visual approach."

That approach involves the use of IMAX, which McQuoid says allowed them to "be bolder and swing harder. 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."

Are you excited about Mortal Komabt 2!? View fullsize
View fullsize
View fullsize