The team behind Mortal Kombat II listened closely to what fans said about the first game and used that feedback to make the sequel even better, even before it became a huge success.
This new movie continues the story from the 2021 reboot, following Earthrealm’s heroes as they fight to stop the evil Emperor Shao Kahn and the sorcerer Shang Tsung from Outworld. They realize they need more allies, so they travel to Hollywood to convince retired action star Johnny Cage to join their battle. Meanwhile, Princess Kitana of Edenia is working to liberate her people from Shao Kahn’s control.
Simon McQuoid returns to direct the new Mortal Kombat II, bringing back nearly all the original cast members. Jessica McNamee reprises her role as Sonya Blade, alongside Josh Lawson as Kano, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, and Damon Herriman, who now plays Quan-Chi instead of Kabal. Joining them are new additions Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, and Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn.
After about five years of work, Mortal Kombat II premiered on April 27th to very positive reactions. It quickly broke several records on Rotten Tomatoes. Leading up to its May 8th release, the film earned a 64% approval rating from critics and an impressive 90% from audiences, making it the highest-rated Mortal Kombat movie adaptation ever.
As a huge cinema fan, I was really interested to read a recent ScreenRant interview with the cast of Mortal Kombat II – Karl Urban, Josh Lawson, Jessica McNamee, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Adeline Rudolph, Martyn Ford, Joe Taslim, and director Simon McQuoid. They were talking about how making the sequel differed from the first film, and Joe Taslim put it perfectly. He described the 2021 movie as a bit of a learning curve – everyone really gave it their all – but this time around, they were able to really listen to what fans wanted and incorporate that into the new film.
As a huge Mortal Kombat fan, it was awesome to hear the actor who plays Sub-Zero talk about the new movie. He called Mortal Kombat II a “true gift” to us fans, explaining that we really made our voices heard after the first film came out. Instead of getting down about the criticism, he and the team saw all the comments as a way to improve things and make a better Mortal Kombat movie – and honestly, I think they really pulled it off!
Ford agreed that Todd Garner, a key creator of the franchise, strongly emphasized incorporating fan feedback for Mortal Kombat II. Ford remembers one of his early conversations with Garner, where Garner discussed focusing on what fans wanted to see in order to meet their expectations.
Martyn Ford felt Todd was very demanding, constantly saying what needed to be done. But honestly, it felt like we were handed everything we needed to succeed. It was like being given a perfect recipe – we just had to follow the instructions and deliver what they asked for, which was a huge advantage.
Mortal Kombat II Was Urban’s “Most Challenging Movie” Yet
ScreenRant asked the actor how physically demanding this movie was compared to their other roles, noting that the film is fast-paced and action-packed from start to finish.
For me, this was the most technically demanding and challenging film I’ve ever worked on. Honestly, it was intimidating joining the project alongside such skilled martial artists like Lewis Tan, Max Huang, Ludi, and Joe Taslim. It was a steep learning curve from the very beginning. They actually took me directly from the airport to start stunt training – no time to settle in at all! It was straight to work.
This is my first time really doing action – I usually do comedy, so it was definitely the most physically demanding thing I’ve ever done. I enjoy being active in my personal life, but it’s never been a requirement for work. I love a good challenge and always want to improve, so I really enjoyed how challenging this film was.
Karl Urban believes the best and most compelling work comes from challenging yourself and stepping outside of your comfort zone. It’s when you’re a bit unsure of what you’re doing that you really find something special.
The interviewer from ScreenRant mentioned that the actors must have had a lot of fun on set, and Simon had said there was a lot of improvisation. They asked about that, and if there was a specific example of something they made up on the spot.
Karl Urban praised Josh’s natural talent for improvisation, saying it’s just part of who he is. Urban felt he needed to improve his own improv skills while working with him, and believes it ultimately made him a better actor. He was also surprised and delighted by how much of their spontaneous, playful back-and-forth made it into the finished film.
Absolutely. Karl is very gracious and points out that we both contributed to the improvisational aspect of the show. What I really enjoyed was that we consistently remained in character. Kano has his own unique personality, and Johnny has his – it wasn’t like Karl and I playing ourselves, it was a completely different dynamic. Kano and Johnny always felt authentic, and even when we were ad-libbing, we stayed true to those characters, which made it a lot of fun.
Karl Urban: It was fun to be bi—y at each other.
Josh Lawson: Yeah yeah.
Karl Urban: They were. They were sort of like bi—es to each other.
ScreenRant: The audience really got a kick out of the Lord of the Rings reference.
Yeah, I definitely remember when he showed that. I immediately said, “You absolutely have to hold onto that – it’s fantastic!”
ScreenRant: Oh, you just did that on your own?
Karl Urban: Yeah.
Josh Lawson: Totally.
While making the movie, I realized Johnny Cage was a Lord of the Rings fan. I noticed similarities between the characters – Raiden reminded me of Gandalf, for example. I started suggesting these connections, and the idea really took off and developed naturally.
Kitana & Jade’s Dynamic Has A Very Real History
I’m thrilled to be speaking with you both! The film is fantastic. And it’s amazing to see the cast of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina back together!
Adeline Rudolph: I know. I know.
Tati Gabrielle: Let’s go!
ScreenRant: What does it mean to reunite?
Working on this project was an incredible experience. I especially loved being able to play Addie because of the strong bond between Kitana and Jade; it felt like a natural extension of an already established sisterhood, and I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity.
Adeline Rudolph: Ditto.
Tati Gabrielle: “— We’re just building it. We’re just building a different version of it.”
I’ve always been fascinated by Adeline Rudolph, and I recently heard her talk about working with her co-star. She explained that because they already had a connection before filming, it took the pressure off! They didn’t have to create chemistry on set – it was already there. This allowed them to really focus on building their characters and exploring the nuances of their relationship, which she said was a huge relief and a wonderful experience.
ScreenRant asked about choosing between Jade and Kitana as favorite characters, and then shifted to the experience of seeing the character design for the first time. They wanted to know what the initial reaction and feelings were upon seeing the look.
It was incredible! I always feel this way when I put on the costume – everything just clicks into place. I especially remember seeing it for the first time with our costume designer, Capp Ireland. They’d already made a version, but also worked with us to make sure it was comfortable enough to move and fight in. Seeing myself in the mirror was a real ‘wow’ moment – it finally hit me that this was really happening.
ScreenRant: The fans were bada—.
Oh my gosh, yes! I think I had around ten braids in my hair. Sorry, I like things to be symmetrical, so let’s say ten for sure.
ScreenRant: Did you keep one?
Adeline Rudolph: Yeah.
ScreenRant: You have to. You have to.
I feel the same way. It’s strange because I used to always play as Jade when I was a kid playing Mortal Kombat.
ScreenRant: That’s awesome.
I was so excited! I felt like, ‘This is amazing, this is what I’ve been working towards.’ It was incredible to see how the costume designer, Cappi, drew inspiration from different versions of the characters when creating our outfits – there were little nods to the past everywhere. It was really satisfying. Seeing the initial designs and then looking in the mirror, fully dressed as Jade, was a ‘wow’ moment. I’d think, ‘Okay, Jade, let’s do this!’ And I absolutely love the staffs my character uses.
ScreenRant: Did you keep it?
Tati Gabrielle: I did. I got to keep one version.
You know, heading into this new Mortal Kombat film, I was really surprised by how central Kitana’s story became. It’s truly her movie, and a lot of it focuses on her relationships. Taking on that responsibility was exciting! And with talk of Mortal Kombat III potentially happening, I’m already thinking about what I’d love to see explored next – so many possibilities!
Adeline Rudolph: Yeah. Oh gosh, that is, I don’t know. I’m open to anything.
ScreenRant: You don’t have to touch that.
I really enjoyed that we were able to explore Edenia and Shao Kahn’s control over it, and how that impacts Kitana and Jade, and what they believe in. It was a great chance to really carry the emotional heart of the movie, especially through their story arcs.
Tati Gabrielle: And this girl’s just bada—. She put in so much work and had a flawless victory.
The Time Between The Two Films Gave The Returning Mortal Kombat Stars More Prep
ScreenRant asked that, having established the world in the first movie, the second film immediately jumps into the action. They wanted to know what differences I observed between the two movies and if the filming experience felt different in any way.
Definitely. As we discussed, the show now has a lot more female presence, which helps create a better balance. With more characters and deeper storylines, it’s simply more enjoyable to watch.
It was definitely nerve-wracking starting the first one, wondering if fans would accept us as the characters and enjoy the story. But the positive response we got was amazing! That gave me a lot of confidence going into the second one – knowing people liked my performance and the show overall. It was much more freeing and fun the second time around, and I felt really excited to get started.
I think we were much better prepared for the second film. We had more time to plan, which made the whole process less chaotic. For the first film, we really prioritized shooting everything on location, and that created a lot of challenges.
Mehcad Brooks: That was crazy. It was crazy.
Jessica McNamee: And the hours were much better on the second one.
Ludi Lin explained that the second film was much larger in scope than the first. They filmed in many different locations, including the Australian Outback, which wouldn’t have been possible with the original movie’s budget and logistics.
Mehcad Brooks: Oh no, no way.
Ludi Lin explained that production designer Yohei Taneda created incredibly detailed sets for the second film.
Jessica McNamee: It’s incredible.
Ludi Lin: It’s crazy to walk into.
Jessica McNamee: So it was all in-studio, basically, the second time around.
Mehcad Brooks: But an entire village in a sound stage. It’s unbelievable.
Ludi Lin: A city in a soundstage.
ScreenRant asked how the cast reacts to the introduction of Johnny Cage, a new character joining the story.
I was really busy, but I quickly started to like his character during the movie. It was a lot of fun working with him, and Karl is just a wonderful person.
I think Josh, who plays Kano, really established the comedic tone in the first film, so it was great to have someone to play off of and bounce humor with. Karl is just naturally funny and always comes up with great lines while we’re filming.
I remember the first day I worked with him – he was doing a fight scene as Baraka, and I was just struck by how much he was Johnny Cage. I literally said, ‘You are Johnny Cage!’ It felt so genuine, and he really embodies the character. He just responded with ‘Thank you,’ which was perfect.
You know, I have to confess, when I first heard who they’d cast in the role, I wasn’t entirely convinced. I actually wondered if it was a mistake! But then I saw his performance, and wow, was I ever wrong. He absolutely blew me away – I feel a little silly for ever doubting him!
Mehcad Brooks: A lot of people are going to be wrong if they thought that.
Ludi Lin: Yeah, a lot of people online seemed to think so, and now it looks like he’s just going to…
Mehcad Brooks: And they’re wrong.
ScreenRant: They’re wrong. I was wrong.
Mehcad Brooks: He is Johnny Cage.
Ludi Lin: He’s going to be like Hugh Jackman in Wolverine. He’s going to be Johnny till he’s 90.
Creating Baraka Required The Most “Trial & Error” Of All Of Mortal Kombat II
ScreenRant: Was that the biggest challenge bringing Baraka to life?
We faced a lot of hurdles, but getting Baraka’s speech right was the biggest. I really wanted to avoid using visual effects for it. In games, you can get away with things that aren’t perfectly realistic – our brains understand it’s not real. But for a movie, I wanted the audience to truly believe what they were seeing. We spent a lot of time figuring out how to animate the mouth and teeth convincingly, experimenting until it felt right. Thankfully, CJ, who played Baraka, did a fantastic job bringing the character to life.
It’s hard to picture Josh and Karl working together on set – they’re both funny, but in different styles, and that really comes through in their scenes. I’m curious, though, how much of their humor is improvised versus written into the script?
There was a lot to cover in the script, but Karl and Josh are both fantastic improvisers. They quickly grasped the core elements of what needed to be communicated. What was really amazing about working with them was the freedom to just let them perform and add their own creativity. They even collaborated on a scene, developing the humor and timing together. They have a natural comedic sense and played off each other brilliantly, essentially writing and refining the scene in the moment. I just gave them space to work their magic, and the result was fantastic.
Be sure to dive into some of our other Mortal Kombat II-related coverage with:
- Josh Lawson on how fan feedback helped drive Kano’s return
- Director Simon McQuoid promising Mortal Kombat II fixes one of the first movie’s biggest complaints
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2026-05-08 22:48