Fans of the iconic fighting game series have been eagerly awaiting updates on the sequel to the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, and now they have their first glimpse at some exciting new characters. Entertainment Weekly has unveiled images of Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, with the return of Hiroyuki Sanada reprising his role as Scorpion.

Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, steps into the shoes of Johnny Cage, the egocentric Hollywood star beloved by Mortal Kombat fans. An in-universe poster for a Cage movie had previously sparked curiosity about Urban's portrayal, and now we see him in a fresh-faced pose, complete with Johnny's signature hair and sunglasses. In the background of the image, we also catch a glimpse of 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 co-creator of Mortal Kombat and a developer at NetherRealm Studios, shared insights with Entertainment Weekly about 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 described Johnny Cage as a washed-up Hollywood star thrust into a world of magic and ultra-violence. Boon praised Urban's unique take on the character, noting that while it diverges from the video game version, it adds a fresh and novel twist.

Boon also teased a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for Johnny Cage. Director Simon McQuoid elaborated on the character's depth, saying, "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 the video game Mortal Kombat 1 later this year.

In addition to the new characters, Damon Herriman (known from Better Man) will portray Quan Chi, while Josh Lawson and Max Huang will reprise their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, despite their characters' demise in the first film. Boon explained that the lore of the Mortal Kombat games, which often brings characters back from the dead, allows for such returns: "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 (The Last of Us Season 2) will play Jade, and Ana Thu Nguyen (NCIS: Sydney) will portray Queen Sindel. Mortal Kombat 2 is set to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, promising fans an exciting continuation of the saga.