‘Mortal Kombat 2’ Cast & Character Guide for Video Game Sequel

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The 2021 film Mortal Kombat was a success with viewers. Based on the well-known fighting game series, it featured a diverse cast of beloved characters. The movie appealed to a wide audience with its exciting and energetic fight scenes, while longtime fans appreciated its faithfulness to the games, including its visuals and signature finishing moves. Although it wasn’t flawless, Mortal Kombat was a significant improvement over previous adaptations, paving the way for a follow-up film.

Originally planned for late 2025, the release of Mortal Kombat II has been moved to May 8, 2026. The film continues the story of Earthrealm’s defense, following the deadly tournament introduced in the 2021 movie. A recent trailer has generated excitement for the sequel, offering a preview of both new and familiar characters. Mortal Kombat II features a large cast, including many fighters returning from the first film, promising a thrilling experience for fans.

New Characters in ‘Mortal Kombat II’

Karl Urban as Johnny Cage


Warner Bros.

Karl Urban, famous for playing Billy Butcher in the hit show The Boys, is now taking on the role of Johnny Cage in the Mortal Kombat movie. Cage is a somewhat faded, middle-aged action movie star who gets unexpectedly drawn into the Mortal Kombat tournament. He’s confident and skilled in martial arts, and early trailers suggest he might be the main character, leading the story for everyone else.

Adeline Rudolph as Kitana


Warner Bros. Pictures

Adeline Rudolph, famous for her role as Agatha in the Netflix series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, is now playing Kitana in the Mortal Kombat movie. Kitana is a princess from Edenia and a well-known character, instantly recognized by her unique steel fans. The film will explore her relationships with her mother, Queen Sindel, and her love interest, Liu Kang, which are expected to be important in future installments. Kitana aims to be a powerful force in the battle against the forces of Outworld, just as she is in the video game.

Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn


Warner Bros.

Martyn Ford, who stands 6’8″ tall, has been in several popular projects like F9: The Fast Saga, the new Red Sonja movie, and House of David. He’s now playing Shao Kahn, the powerful emperor from the Outworld realm, and appears to be bringing the character’s villainous nature from the video games to life. The trailers suggest a frightening performance, and his relationship with Shang Tsung will likely be important to the story.

Tati Gabrielle as Jade


Warner Bros.

I’ve been really noticing Tati Gabrielle lately – she’s been in some fantastic shows like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, You, and even The Last of Us! She was also in Uncharted with Tom Holland. Now, she’s playing Jade in the new Mortal Kombat movie, and from the trailers, it looks like she’s a really important character. Apparently, Jade is Kitana’s super-skilled bodyguard, and they have this long history as friends, which I’m guessing will play a big part in the story.

CJ Bloomfield as Baraka


Warner Bros.

CJ Bloomfield has been in several popular action movies recently, including Ice Road: Vengeance and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. He’s now playing the well-known character Baraka, easily identified by his sharp teeth and blades that extend from his arms – features showcased in the movie trailer. Baraka leads the Tarkatans, a fierce, wandering group of mutants who have long been enemies in the game and are working with the villain Shao Kahn.

Joe Taslim as Bi-Han/Noob Saibot


Warner Bros.

I’ve been a fan of Joe Taslim ever since I first saw him in The Raid: Redemption and then in Warrior. I was so excited to see him as Sub-Zero in the Mortal Kombat movie, even though his character tragically met his end at the hands of Scorpion. But knowing the story of Mortal Kombat, I fully expected him to return! It’s awesome that he’s coming back as Noob Saibot, the undead wraith from the Netherrealm, just like in the game. And from what I’ve heard, it sounds like his connection to Quan Chi, who brought him back, will be a big part of the new movie too – I can’t wait!

Additional New Characters in ‘Mortal Kombat II’

  • Ana Thu Nguyen (Primitive War) is appearing in the sequel as Sindel, Kitana’s mother and Jerrod’s wife. She is likely to play a villain, as she is never to be trusted in the games, and her relationship with her daughter is tenuous at best. She may even be allied with Shao Kahn.
  • Damon Herriman (Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood) is playing Quan Chi, an evil necromancer and rival of Shang Tsung. Not much has been seen of Herriman’s role, but his villainous character could play an integral part in the sequel’s conflict or even in future entries.
  • Desmond Chiam (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) is King Jerrod, who is featured in the latest trailer. Jerrod is King of Edenia and Kitana’s father, with the character looking to set up much of the sequel’s stakes.

Returning Cast & Characters From ‘Mortal Kombat’ (2021)

As a big fan of the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie, I’m excited to hear a lot of the same characters are coming back for the sequel! It sounds like we’ll definitely be seeing familiar faces take center stage, though some might have smaller roles this time around. While Johnny Cage seems like he’s stepping up as the main guy, Liu Kang, Raiden, and Sonya Blade are all over the promotional materials, so they’ll be important too. It’s great to hear the sequel will balance bringing back characters we love with introducing some new ones.

  • Ludi Lin (Power Rangers) is back as Liu Kang, a Shaolin monk chosen to protect Earthrealm, who is easily considered the game franchise’s main protagonist. If there is a lead figure in the story aside from Urban’s Johnny Cage, it will likely be Liu, whose connections to Raiden and Kitana can bring depth to the sequel.
  • Tadanobu Asano (Shogun) returns as Lord Raiden, with the trailers showing the God of Thunder pulling Johnny Cage into the battle to stop Outworld from conquering the realms. He’s likely to continue in a mentor role, fighting when needed.
  • Hiroyuki Sanada (Shogun) reprises his impressive turn as Scorpion/Hanzo Hasashi. However, after defeating Sub-Zero to exact his vengeance in Mortal Kombat, Scorpion will likely serve in a supporting role, becoming an integral side character.
  • Josh Lawson (St. Denis Medical) is back as Mortal Kombat standout Kano, the humorous mercenary with a laser eye. He was killed, and the sequel introduces a new iteration of the character, likely resurrected by Shang Tsung.
  • Jessica McNamee (The Meg) reprises her role as Sonya Blade, who appears to have a prominent role in the sequel, much as she did in the first movie. She’s putting her Special Forces skills to use, helping Johnny acclimate to the fight.
  • Max Huang (Time Raiders) returns as Kung Lao, bringing his iconic bladed hat in his return from the dead. Much like Noob Saibot, Kung Lao was likely resurrected by Quan Chi, potentially underscoring Quan Chi’s prominent influence in the sequel.
  • Chin Han (Marco Polo) is back as Shang Tsung, who will likely be allied with Shao Kahn. He was also defeated in the first film, with the soul-stealing sorcerer’s presence still set to be menacing, though perhaps less prominent.
  • Mehcad Brooks (Law & Order) returns as Jax, Sonya’s partner and a skilled Special Forces operative who has cybernetically enhanced arms. The character appears to serve as one of the sequel’s central heroes, though the scope of his role remains to be seen.
  • Lewis Tan (Cobra Kai) is back as Cole Young, an original character created for the first Mortal Kombat, who is a descendant of Hanzo Hasashi. He was a divisive addition, with the MMA fighter clearly not the lead of the sequel. While his role may be small, some also speculate Cole could be killed off, but that has not been confirmed.

Get ready for more brutal action! The movie Mortal Kombat II is coming to theaters this summer, and it might include even more fighters beyond the already impressive lineup.




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2026-03-03 22:22