The “Kombat” is officially back, and this time, it’s bringing a bit of Hollywood glitter to the blood-soaked arenas of Outworld. On February 25, 2026, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema finally unleashed the second official trailer for Mortal Kombat II, and social media hasn’t stopped buzzing since.
The Trailer Breakdown: “Search for Greatness”
The trailer opens not with a fight, but with a monologue. We hear Johnny Cage’s voice—gravelly and weary—musing on what it means to be a hero. “It’s not destiny,” he quips. “It’s searching for greatness.” We see Cage at a low point, a “dispirited” action star whose career is in the gutter, attending a fan convention where nobody remembers his name.
This grounded introduction is quickly shattered when Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) appears to recruit him. From there, the trailer becomes a relentless montage of “Fatality”-grade violence. We see glimpses of the Hollow Earth, the grand arenas of Outworld, and the first meeting between Cage and Kitana (Adeline Rudolph).
One of the standout moments involves a snarky exchange where Johnny tells Kitana he isn’t “comfortable hitting a girl,” only for the Edenian princess to effortlessly floor him. It’s the kind of campy, self-aware humor that was arguably missing from the 2021 film, signaling a tonal shift closer to the 1995 cult classic.
Mortal Kombat II: Release Date and Global Launch
After a series of production delays and release window shifts, Warner Bros. has locked in a firm date.
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International Release: May 6, 2026
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North America (USA/IMAX): May 8, 2026
The film is skipping the “hybrid” release model (HBO Max/Theaters) that hampered the first film’s box office, instead opting for an exclusive theatrical window. This move suggests high studio confidence, especially following rumors that test screenings for Mortal Kombat II received reactions comparable to Avengers: Endgame in terms of audience excitement.
The Cast: New Blood and Returning Champions
The sequel boasts an ensemble that blends the surviving cast of the first film with iconic legends from the video game lore.
The Returning Cast
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Lewis Tan as Cole Young: The “prophesied” descendant of Hanzo Hasashi.
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Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade: Now officially a champion with her energy ring abilities.
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Mehcad Brooks as Jax: The cybernetically enhanced powerhouse.
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Ludi Lin as Liu Kang: The fiery Shaolin monk.
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Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion: The vengeful specter.
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Joe Taslim as Noob Saibot: Having been “killed” as Sub-Zero, Taslim returns as the shadow wraith.
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Chin Han as Shang Tsung: The soul-stealing sorcerer.
The Newcomers
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Karl Urban as Johnny Cage: The washed-up actor turned Earthrealm savior.
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Adeline Rudolph as Kitana: The fan-favorite princess of Edenia.
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Tati Gabrielle as Jade: Kitana’s loyal (and deadly) bodyguard.
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Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn: The towering, hammer-wielding Emperor of Outworld.
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Damon Herriman as Quan Chi: The manipulative necromancer.
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Desmond Chiam as King Jerrod: The fallen ruler of Edenia.
Reflecting on the 2021 Box Office
To understand the stakes for the 2026 sequel, we have to look back at the performance of the 2021 Mortal Kombat. Released during the height of the pandemic and under a controversial “Day and Date” streaming model, its numbers were a mixed bag but ultimately proved the brand’s resilience.
While $84 million might look modest, the film was a massive hit for HBO Max, becoming one of the most-streamed titles in the platform’s history at the time. This digital success is what greenlit the sequel with a larger budget (estimated at $68 million) and a more expansive script by Jeremy Slater (Moon Knight, The Umbrella Academy).
Why Johnny Cage Changes Everything
The absence of Johnny Cage was the biggest criticism of the 2021 film. The producers’ logic was that Cage’s “big personality” would have overshadowed Cole Young’s origin story. In Mortal Kombat II, they are leaning into that overshadowing.
Karl Urban’s version of the character is described as “broken” at the start. He has lost his cockiness and his martial arts training. His journey in the film is to reclaim his identity as a champion. By using an established, “likable” actor like Urban, the film gains an emotional anchor that helps balance the high-fantasy elements of realms and elder gods.
Final Thoughts: Will It Deliver?
Mortal Kombat II has a lot of “bluffing” to overcome. Fans are wary of video game adaptations, but the inclusion of Jeremy Slater on the script and Karl Urban in the lead role suggests a level of quality control that was missing from previous decades of game movies.
The trailer promises a film that respects the source material’s “twisted” sense of humor and its legendary brutality. On May 8, 2026, we’ll find out if Johnny Cage has what it takes to save Earthrealm—and the box office.
