Fans of the Mortal Kombat franchise have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2, set for release on October 24, 2025. Screenwriter and producer Jeremy Slater has teased that the film will be “so much funnier and bigger” than the first installment. 
In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, Slater shared his excitement about squeezing a massive cast of 20 iconic fighters into the movie while ensuring the story remains emotionally focused.
Slater explained the challenges of balancing a large ensemble with the need to keep the story engaging, saying, “It’s very easy for these things to become three-to-four-hour, sprawling epics, so you always have to be judicious in cutting things down and focus on the emotional core of the story. We made sure that when the key moments arrive-the fights, fatalities, surprises, deaths-they land in a satisfying way.”
According to Slater, the test screenings were a major success. He described the audience reactions as reminiscent of his own experience with Avengers: Endgame, with fans cheering, jumping out of their seats, and laughing at every joke. “It was one of the greatest moments of my life,” he said. “That’s why you get into this business.”
The sequel will introduce a range of new characters, including Martyn Ford’s Shao Kahn and Adeline Rudolph’s Kitana, alongside returning faces like Hiroyuki Sanada’s Scorpion. Fans have also been curious about how Karl Urban, known for his role as Billy Butcher in The Boys, will portray the fan-favorite Hollywood star Johnny Cage. In the movie, Urban’s Cage will be sporting the character’s trademark hair and sunglasses, standing alongside familiar faces like Ludi Lin as Liu Kang and Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade.
Ed Boon, the creator of the Mortal Kombat games, has hinted that Cage’s role will be central to the film’s exploration of a “washed-up Hollywood guy thrown into a magical, ultra-violent world.” Boon teased that Johnny Cage’s introduction would be “ridiculously hilarious,” while director Simon McQuoid noted that Urban’s portrayal adds depth to the character, ensuring he isn’t just a comedic figure.
In addition to Urban’s Johnny Cage, the film will feature Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, with Josh Lawson and Max Huang returning as Kano and Kung Lao, despite their deaths in the first film. As Boon explained, the Mortal Kombat universe’s lore makes it easy to bring back dead characters, thanks to the existence of spirits and the NetherRealm. Other new cast members include Tati Gabrielle as Jade and Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel.
With a new look at its star-studded cast and a fresh approach to the story, Mortal Kombat 2 is shaping up to be an action-packed sequel. Fans of the franchise will definitely want to mark their calendars for this one!