Karl Urban Debuts as Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2

Excitement is building as the next installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise, Mortal Kombat 2, gears up for release, and fans have just been treated to a first glimpse of a new character: Johnny Cage. The iconic Hollywood actor and fighter will be portrayed by none other than Karl Urban, known for his roles in The Boys and Judge Dredd. Ed Boon, co-creator of Mortal Kombat, shared a striking poster of Urban as Johnny Cage, styled as a mock movie poster complete with dramatic action elements, including two motorcycles leaping from flames.

Mortal Kombat 2 follows directly from the 2021 reboot, which introduced audiences to Lewis Tan's Cole Young, Hiroyuki Sanada's Scorpion, and Joe Taslim's Sub-Zero. The sequel is expanding its cast with notable additions, including Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, and Damon Herriman as the sinister Quan Chi. Urban joins this talented ensemble, bringing his own flair to the beloved character of Johnny Cage.

The original film centered on Cole Young's journey into the brutal world of Mortal Kombat and the historical feud between Scorpion and Sub-Zero. While details about the plot of Mortal Kombat 2 remain under wraps, the rich narrative tapestry of the video game series offers numerous possibilities for the sequel's storyline.

Initially planned for a theatrical release, the first Mortal Kombat movie was diverted to HBO Max due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, fans can look forward to experiencing Mortal Kombat 2 on the big screen, with a scheduled theatrical release on October 24, 2025.

In our review of the first film, we awarded it a score of 7, praising it as a "spectacular display of blood, guts, and effects-heavy martial arts battles."