It doesn’t get any more meta than this. Warner Bros. has dropped a fake movie poster for a Johnny Cage film promoting the very real Mortal Kombat 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Simon McQuiod’s 2021 live-action reboot. In it, The Boys star Karl Urban is transformed into the Hollywood actor and Mortal Kombatant, complete with the character’s slicked-back hair, sunglasses, and leather jacket.
“From the studio that brought you Rebel Without A Cage, Uncaged Fury,” reads the tongue-in-cheek text. Coupled with a backdrop showing two motorcycles jumping out of blazing flames and billowing smoke, this fake (and smart) marketing stunt is filled with Cage’s flamboyant, narcissistic flavour.
The explosive first look comes after news of Urban’s casting in May 2023 and in the wake of a tease at the end of the first movie. McQuiod will return to helm Mortal Kombat 2, which is set to bring back most of the previous cast, including Lewis Tan (protagonist Cole Young), Jessica McNamee (Sonya Blade), Josh Lawson (Kano), Tadanobu Asano (Raiden), and Mehcad Brooks (Jax).
Fan favourite Kitana, played by The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star Adeline Rudolph, is also making her live-action debut, joining bodybuilder Marytn Ford as Shao Kahn, Desmond Chiam as King Jerrod, Ana Thu Nguyen as Sindel, and Damon Herriman as Quan Chi on the newcomer roster. There’s no word on the plot for the sequel just yet, with Jeremy Slate serving as screenwriter, and James Wan, Michael Clear, Todd Garner, McQuoid, and E. Bennett Walsh onboard as producers.
Mortal Kombat 2 is slated for theatrical release on 24 October 2025.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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