Warner Bros.’ 2021 live-action Mortal Kombat is getting another movie, Mortal Kombat 2, and there’s a lot of new information coming out now that they’re making it. The sequel is shaping up to include more characters from the Mortal Kombat games, like Johnny Cage, Shao Kahn, and Sindel. This gives us hints that Mortal Kombat 2 will explore the story of the Mortal Kombat games even more, delving into their surprisingly detailed background.
The Mortal Kombat movie from 2021 was the third live-action adaptation of the game series, and now Mortal Kombat 2 is on its way as a direct sequel. The 2021 movie kept its promise of an R-rating and stayed true to the game, bringing famous characters to the screen and introducing new ones like Cole Young (played by Lewis Tan). Mortal Kombat 2 is anticipated to build on the success of the cinematic franchise, which began with the live-action debuts of Sub Zero, Scorpion, and others.
The Latest Mortal Kombat 2 News
A few months after announcing the resumption of filming, Mortal Kombat 2 has officially completed principal photography. Despite being temporarily halted by the SAG-AFTRA strike of 2023, the film quickly resumed production in November 2023. Max Huang, who plays Kung Lao, marked the film’s completion by sharing a series of cast photos on Instagram.
The Mortal Kombat 2 Cast
Lewis Tan – Cole Young
In the Mortal Kombat movie universe, Lewis Tan’s character, Cole Young, is an original creation serving as the audience’s avatar. Descended from the legendary Scorpion, considered the greatest warrior, Cole inherits the Dragon Mark, compelling him to participate in the imminent Mortal Kombat tournament.
Jessica McNamee – Sonya Blade
Sonya Blade, portrayed by Jessica McNamee, is a formidable fighter enlisted into the Special Forces by Jax, played by Mehcad Brooks. Although lacking the dragon mark, she aims to join the Mortal Kombat tournament and reluctantly assists in escorting Cole Young to the temple of Lord Raiden.
Mehcad Brooks – Jax
Mehcad Brooks plays Jax Briggs, a Special Forces officer who, like Cole Young, bears the Dragon Mark. Jax has dedicated his entire life to unraveling the mysteries of the Mortal Kombat tournament, leading him to cross paths with Cole.
Hiroyuki Sanada – Scorpion
Hiroyuki Sanada portrays Scorpion, recognized in the Mortal Kombat universe as the greatest warrior ever. A master of ninjutsu, Scorpion’s soul was banished to the Netherrealm and trapped in eternal fire after his death at the hands of Bi-Han, granting him fire-wielding abilities.
Joe Taslim – Bi-Han/Sub-Zero
Joe Taslim portrays Bi-Han, also known as Sub-Zero. As the mortal enemy of Scorpion, Sub-Zero served as one of the antagonists in the first Mortal Kombat film. This Lin Kuei clan assassin is a Cryomancer, possessing the power to manipulate ice.
Karl Urban – Johnny Cage
Mortal Kombat 2 welcomes Karl Urban as the newcomer to the franchise, portraying the character Johnny Cage. Introduced with a teaser in 2021’s Mortal Kombat, Johnny Cage is an action movie star and skilled martial artist, recognized for his distinctive sunglasses and witty Hollywood remarks.
Chin Han – Shang Tsung
Chin Han portrays the soul-stealing sorcerer Shang Tsung in the Mortal Kombat film. This villainous master of magic served as the primary antagonist in the first Mortal Kombat movie, leading Outworld to nine consecutive victories over Earthrealm in the Mortal Kombat tournament.
Tadanobu Asano – Lord Raiden
Tadanobu Asano plays Lord Raiden, the champion of Mortal Kombat’s Earthrealm. He provides sanctuary to those with the Dragon Mark, including the franchise’s protagonist, Cole Young. Despite losing the last nine Mortal Kombat tournaments, Raiden is not very optimistic about his latest group of heroes, but there may be a change this time.
Ludi Lin – Liu Kang
Ludi Lin portrays Liu Kang, a Shaolin Monk with fire-wielding abilities in Mortal Kombat. As an Order of Light warrior from Earthrealm, he is one of Lord Raiden’s formidable fighters and shares a close friendship with Kung Lao.
Martyn Ford – Shao Kahn
Making his first appearance in Mortal Kombat 2, Martyn Ford takes on the role of the imposing tyrant Shao Kahn. Shao Kahn, a revered and dreaded character in the MK universe, serves as the main antagonist in the Mortal Kombat video games. He holds the throne in Outworld and presides over the Mortal Kombat tournament.
Desmond Chiam – Edenian King Jerrod
A new face joining the cast of Mortal Kombat 2 is Desmond Chaim, portraying the Edenian King Jerrod. In the MK video games, Jerrod has a minor role as the ghost of a past king of the Edenia empire. Though not a central fighter, Jerrod is notable as the father of the formidable princess Kitana.
Ana Thu Nguyen – Queen Sindel
In Mortal Kombat 2, Queen Sindel, succeeding Edenian King Jerrod after his fall in battle, will make her debut in the cinematic universe. Her presence is expected to contribute to the storyline, especially with her daughter Kitana playing a significant role in the sequel.
Adeline Rudolph – Kitana
Adeline Rudolph is set to portray the fan-favorite video game character Kitana in Mortal Kombat 2. Kitana, the heir to the Edenian throne and daughter of King Jerrod and Queen Sindel, is renowned for leading her army into Outworld to prevent the tyrant Shao Kahn from reclaiming power—a storyline that may unfold in the big-screen sequel.
Tati Gabrielle – Jade
Tati Gabrielle takes on the role of Jade in Mortal Kombat 2, serving as one of Shao Kahn’s assassins in his quest to maintain control over the realms. Jade is easily recognizable by her sharp, lizard-like teeth and long tongue, which are often concealed by her iconic green mask.
Damon Herriman – Quan Chi
Damon Herriman will portray Quan Chi in Mortal Kombat 2, embodying the character known as a master of dark magic and necromancy. Hailing from the Netherrealm, Quan Chi is a formidable warrior and a potent adversary for both Earthrealm and Outworld.
Mortal Kombat 2 Story Details
While no specific plot details for Mortal Kombat 2 have been disclosed, some clues from the first film suggest potential directions for the sequel.
In a discussion with The Direct, Mortal Kombat 2 writer Jeremy Slater expressed satisfaction and excitement about the script for the upcoming film, leaving fans intrigued about the potential direction of the series.
“It’s really fun so far. We’re about halfway through the script. I’m working really closely with the director and the studios, and the game guys, and I think—I can’t say anything about the actual story, but I think they definitely learned some lessons the last time around in terms of, ‘Here’s the stuff fans responded to, and here’s what people liked out of the movie, and here’s the stuff that didn’t work out as well as we hoped.’ So we’re really looking at this as a chance to take everything that worked in the first one and do it even better and give the audience even more, and make something that is just incredibly satisfying, and really exciting, and unpredictable.”
He added that the sequel will “embrace [the] weirdness” is known for:
“I don’t think it’s necessarily going to have the same tone as the MCU, but it’s definitely going to have some of my sensibilities. That was part of my pitch to them. This is ‘Mortal Kombat.’ We have guys who are ripping off their faces and breathing fire—it’s a weird universe, let’s embrace some of that weirdness, and let’s make a ‘Mortal Kombat’ sequel that no one is expecting and that can kind of sneak in and blow everyone away. We’re still really early in that process, but I’m having a blast with this script.”
After the events of the 2021 Mortal Kombat reboot, it appears highly likely that the movie franchise will delve into the iconic tournament, which is the centerpiece of the series.
At the conclusion of the previous film, the series protagonist Cole Young was hinted to be assembling fighters for the impending clash, with a post-credits scene foreshadowing his recruitment of Johnny Cage (to be portrayed by Karl Urban).
Given these indications in the final moments of the first Mortal Kombat film, it’s likely that the sequel will predominantly revolve around the search for Earthrealm’s top fighters, leading to the inevitable and deadly Mortal Kombat tournament.
Mortal Kombat 2 Release Date
Mortal Kombat 2 has not received an official release date, but the film is currently in production. Anticipated speculation suggests that Mortal Kombat 2 could potentially hit theaters around November 2024, approximately 17 months after the commencement of filming, or it might be slated for a release in 2025. The exact release schedule is yet to be officially confirmed.
