Fans of the iconic fighting game series are in for a treat as Mortal Kombat 2 offers a first glimpse at several new characters slated to appear in the highly anticipated movie sequel. Entertainment Weekly has unveiled exclusive images featuring Karl Urban as the flamboyant Johnny Cage, Martyn Ford as the imposing Shao Kahn, and Adeline Rudolph as the graceful Kitana, alongside the return of Hiroyuki Sanada reprising his role as Scorpion.

The casting of Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, as Johnny Cage has been a topic of much speculation among fans. The newly released image showcases Urban in a fresh-faced portrayal of Cage, complete with the character's signature hairstyle and sunglasses, striking a classic martial arts pose. In the background, we catch glimpses of Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, setting the stage for an action-packed sequel.

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

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#MortalKombat2 pic.twitter.com/7ifeMHzhC6

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Entertainment Weekly also shared insights from Ed Boon, co-creator of the Mortal Kombat series, regarding 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 Cage as a "washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing," and praised Urban's unique take on the character, adding, "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 teased a "ridiculously hilarious" introduction for Johnny Cage, while director Simon McQuoid emphasized the balance they aimed to strike with the character. "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."

In addition to the new characters, Entertainment Weekly 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, bridging the gap between the film and the game.

The sequel also introduces Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, with Josh Lawson and Max Huang reprising their roles as Kano and Kung Lao, despite their characters' demise in the first film. Boon explained the creative liberty taken with the lore, stating, "So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that. 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 fans an exhilarating continuation of the saga.