In the sequel to the 2021 film Mortal Kombat, the narrative transition to Hollywood is underscored. Following a fierce confrontation between Earthrealm’s champions and those from Outworld, Cole Young (played by Lewis Tan), a former MMA fighter and descendant of Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion (portrayed by Hiroyuki Sanada), embarks on a journey to Los Angeles in search of Johnny Cage, a new ally for the impending conflict.
Johnny Cage, a notable and flamboyant figure from the video game series and earlier cinematic adaptations, was merely hinted at in the first installment through a promotional poster for his fictional film, Citizen Cage. However, in Entertainment Weekly’s exclusive preview of Mortal Kombat 2, set to release in theaters and IMAX on October 24, Urban officially embodies this iconic character alongside fellow champions from Earthrealm.
Ed Boon, co-creator of Mortal Kombat and head of NetherRealm Studios, shared insights with EW regarding Johnny Cage’s role in the storyline. “You will finally witness Johnny Cage,” he stated. “His integration into the Mortal Kombat narrative is a significant focus of this film. He represents a disillusioned Hollywood star thrust into a fantastical and violent reality. Karl Urban’s interpretation of Johnny Cage diverges from our video games in certain aspects; he infuses his own unique style, resulting in a refreshing portrayal.”
Similar to Tan’s Cole in the previous film, Boon emphasized that Johnny acts as a conduit for the audience’s understanding of this new narrative. He described the character’s introduction as “ridiculously hilarious,” having generated some of the most substantial laughter during initial screenings of Mortal Kombat 2. Director Simon McQuoid acknowledged the challenge of maintaining a balance in tone. “We aimed to create a character that wasn’t merely comical or frivolous… It was essential to prevent him from becoming overly lighthearted or disposable,” McQuoid commented. “Casting Karl Urban provided the character with greater depth.”
In addition to Johnny Cage, there are other new characters joining the ensemble. Returning veterans 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. EW also reveals Adeline Rudolph (known for her roles in Hellboy: The Crooked Man and Netflix’s Resident Evil series) portraying the beloved character Kitana, along with Martyn Ford (House of David, Those About to Die) taking on the role of the formidable Shao Kahn.
As an exciting addition for gamers, new movie-inspired skins for these characters—including Urban’s Johnny, Rudolph’s Kitana, and Ford’s Shao Kahn—will be introduced in the Mortal Kombat 1 video game later this year.
The film is set to feature these characters as they converge for the highly anticipated tournament that fans have long awaited. In the first installment, Shang Tsung (Chin Han), the sorcerer from Outworld, attempted to eliminate Earth’s champions prior to the pivotal Mortal Kombat tournament among fighters from various realms. This tournament is now officially depicted in the sequel, with immense stakes involved; if Earthrealm succumbs to its tenth consecutive defeat against Outworld, Shao Kahn will invade and conquer Earth.
Boon elaborated on the tournament aspect: “Throughout the movie, there will be a scorekeeping mechanism… This is not merely a tournament for entertainment purposes; there are severe repercussions at stake, which necessitates careful attention to the score. Additionally, numerous twists will keep audiences engaged.”
Notably, despite previous deaths in Mortal Kombat 1, characters such as Kano and Kung Lao will return in Mortal Kombat 2, portrayed by Josh Lawson and Max Huang, respectively. Boon hinted at existing lore within the Mortal Kombat universe that allows for such resurrections. “We have eliminated various characters who appear in Mortal Kombat 1 and our recent games,” he noted. “Thus, we navigate themes related to spirits and the NetherRealm that facilitate character comebacks.”
The longstanding rivalry between Scorpion and Sub-Zero also continues in Mortal Kombat 2 but is not central to the main plot. Boon indicated that Hanzo Hasashi’s presence remains significant and contributes to advancing other storylines within the film.
McQuoid’s vision for the sequel included enhancing female representation within the cast. Alongside McNamee’s Sonya Blade and Rudolph’s Kitana, Tati Gabrielle
