Mortal Kombat 2: First Look at Karl Urban's Johnny Cage

Get ready to fight! The next chapter in the Mortal Kombat saga is on the horizon, and we've just gotten our first glimpse of a major addition to the cast: Johnny Cage, played by the legendary Karl Urban.

Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon unveiled a brilliantly cheeky poster featuring Urban as the Hollywood-esque fighter. The poster itself is a clever fake movie poster for a fictional Johnny Cage film, complete with the over-the-top action you'd expect—two motorcycles leaping from flames! It's a perfect bit of meta-marketing.

Mortal Kombat 2 serves as a direct sequel to the 2021 reboot, which starred Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, and Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero. Joining the fray alongside Urban are Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, and Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, promising a fresh wave of iconic characters.

The first film focused on Cole Young's journey into the Mortal Kombat universe and the epic rivalry between Scorpion and Sub-Zero. While plot details for the sequel remain under wraps, the vast lore of the Mortal Kombat video games provides a wealth of potential storylines for the filmmakers to explore.

Initially planned for a theatrical release, the first Mortal Kombat film premiered on HBO Max due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Mortal Kombat 2 is set for a theatrical release on October 24, 2025.

Our review of the first film awarded it a 7 out of 10, praising its "spectacular display of blood, guts, and effects-heavy martial arts battles.”