Every New Character in Mortal Kombat II, Explained

A new threat is coming as Mortal Kombat II gets closer to release. Picking up where 2021’s Mortal Kombat left off, the movie will once again follow Cole Young, played by Lewis Tan, as he works to fulfill a destiny: bringing together Earthrealm’s next generation of fighters to protect the world from the evil forces of Outworld.

With a new leader rising to power, Outworld’s army is preparing for battle, bringing with them frightening new warriors and some familiar faces. They’re determined to conquer Earthrealm when the movie releases on May 8th. The Mortal Kombat II film will introduce a mix of new and classic fighters to the Mortal Kombat movie universe.

Johnny Cage (Karl Urban)

At the end of Mortal Kombat, Cole begins preparing for the next tournament. He starts looking for new fighters, and a poster for Citizen Cage is visible, suggesting Hollywood as a potential recruiting ground.

Fans will finally see Karl Urban, known for his role in The Boys, play the iconic Johnny Cage in the upcoming sequel. The film portrays Cage as a former 90s action movie star who’s fallen from grace. He’s brought back into the fight by Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) and Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee) and must rediscover his hidden abilities to protect Earth from the invading forces of Outworld.

Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford)

I’m so hyped for the next movie! They’re really raising the bar, and it looks like Shao Kahn is finally going to appear. Martyn Ford is playing him, and it’s awesome because Shao Kahn was the final boss in the original Mortal Kombat II arcade game. Basically, he uses a rematch between realms as a way to try and take over Earthrealm – it’s going to be epic!

Wearing a skull mask and armed with a powerful hammer, Kahn is an unpredictable fighter who ignores the tournament’s rules. He’s only interested in defeating opponents and absorbing their energy to become stronger.

Kitana (Adeline Rudolph)

Adeline Rudolph plays Princess Kitana in Mortal Kombat, a character originally introduced as a warrior from Outworld and the daughter of Shao Kahn. Kitana is known as one of the most intricate and compelling fighters in the game.

As a huge fan of the Mortal Kombat lore, Kitana’s story always gets me. She’s this incredibly skilled warrior, but her life is tragic. She fights with those amazing bladed fans, seemingly loyal to the emperor, but it’s all a facade. See, Kahn conquered her home world, Edenia, killed her parents, and forced her to be his heir. So, underneath it all, she’s desperately trying to take him down and expose his secrets. It’s complicated though, because that puts her at odds with Earthrealm’s heroes sometimes, even though she ultimately wants what’s right.

Sindel (Ana Thu Nguyen)

When Outworld defeated Edenia for the tenth time, Shao Kahn took control of the Edenian Queen, Ana Thu Nguyen’s Sindel. This led to the death of King Jerrod (played by Desmond Chiam) and the kidnapping of Kitana.

Sindel tried to end her life to avoid being forced into a relationship with Kahn, but he resurrected her and turned her into one of his loyal followers. She’s a powerful fighter, famous for her incredibly loud, sonic screams, which were even used against her own daughter in a preview of the game.

Quan Chi (Damon Herriman)

Quan Chi, a powerful sorcerer from Outworld, wants to take over all of existence, just like his occasional partner, Shang Tsung (Chin Han).

Quan Chi will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even forming alliances with Outworld’s most dangerous villains and raising the dead. It’s currently unknown if he’ll side with Kahn or Shang in the new movie, but the character will be played by Damon Herriman.

Noob Saibot (Joe Taslim)

Joe Taslim will be back for Mortal Kombat II, reprising his role despite his character’s defeat by Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) in the first film. Though banished to the Netherrealm by his enemy, Sub-Zero, Taslim’s character has been brought back to life by Quan Chi and will now fight as a warrior for Outworld.

As a long-time fan of this series, I’ve always appreciated villains with layers, and Noob Saibot definitely fits the bill. He’s not just fighting for the sake of the tournament; he’s got his own agenda, something completely self-serving. And, naturally, that puts him on a collision course with Scorpion again – a rivalry that’s always been a highlight for me.

Jade (Tati Gabrielle)

Similar to Kitana, Jade—played by Tati Gabrielle—is a skilled warrior from the realm of Edenia, and the two become close friends. However, Shao Kahn doesn’t fully trust either of them. He makes Jade promise to kill Kitana if she ever appears disloyal.

Jade is a skilled combatant who could significantly impact the tournament. She’s caught in a difficult position, balancing her duty to the Outworld throne with her strong feelings for a close friend.

Baraka (CJ Bloomfield)

Baraka began as one of the countless inhabitants living under Shao Kahn’s control in Outworld, eventually becoming a trusted general. Though he looks like a terrifying monster, Baraka isn’t driven by selfishness or a desire for power like many other Outworld warriors.

He’s driven by a genuine desire to help his people, not by animosity towards Earth or hidden agendas, making him a surprisingly complex character. In Mortal Kombat II, Baraka will be played by CJ Bloomfield, and we’ve already seen glimpses of him battling Johnny Cage and the Earthrealm Defenders alongside his followers.

2026-05-03 02:07