‘Mortal Kombat II’ Brings Johnny Cage to the Battlefield as Earth Fights for Survival

The highly anticipated sequel to Mortal Kombat officially introduces Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban, as the brutal tournament’s fate takes a darker turn.

With Earth’s warriors facing off against Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), the ruthless overlord of Outworld, the stakes couldn’t be higher — if they lose, Earth falls.

Returning cast members include Tadanobu Asano (Lord Raiden), Mehcad Brooks (Jax Briggs), Ludi Lin (Liu Kang), Jessica McNamee (Sonya Blade), Joe Taslim (Sub-Zero), and Hiroyuki Sanada (Scorpion). They’ll be joined by new faces in the franchise, such as Tati Gabrielle (Jade) and Adeline Rudolph (Kitana).

Co-creator of Mortal Kombat and head of NetherRealm Studios, Ed Boon, teased the epic clash fans can expect, especially between Sub-Zero and Scorpion. He hinted that Scorpion’s role, while different this time, is still crucial:

“He’s not part of the ‘Super Friends’ trying to defeat Shao Kahn, but his appearance is key and it is very essential for certain parts.”

Boon also spoke about Karl Urban’s interpretation of Johnny Cage:

“His integration into the Mortal Kombat story and universe is a big part of what this movie explores. He’s a washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into this magical, ultra-violent thing. 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.”

Mortal Kombat II hits theaters on October 24.