Baraka’s First Look in ‘Mortal Kombat II’ Sparks Frenzy as Movie Ranks Among Fall’s Most Anticipated Movies
Mortal Kombat II is gearing up to hit theaters on October 24, 2025, and fans couldn’t be more excited. Directed by Simon McQuoid and written by Jeremy Slater, the film continues the story from the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie. It’s the fourth film in the franchise based on the hit video game series created by Ed Boon and John Tobias.
The sequel brings back fan favorites like Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman (in a new role), Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada. New faces joining the cast include Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, and Tati Gabrielle.
After the first Mortal Kombat film released in April 2021, producer Todd Garner, writer Greg Russo, and director McQuoid started planning the franchise’s future. Ideas included spin-off movies focused on Johnny Cage and Bi-Han/Sub-Zero, as well as a full sequel.
By 2022, Warner Bros. officially greenlit Mortal Kombat II with Slater writing the script and McQuoid returning to direct. Filming began in June 2023 in Australia, paused mid-July because of the SAG-AFTRA strike, resumed in November, and wrapped in late January 2024.
A new exclusive image released from the movie gives fans their first look at Baraka making a memorable entrance. The reveal comes as Mortal Kombat II was voted one of the most anticipated fall movies, landing second in a Fandango survey of over 2,000 moviegoers.
“From New Line Cinema comes the latest high-stakes installment in the blockbuster video game franchise in all its brutal glory, Mortal Kombat II. This time, the fan favorite champions—now joined by Johnny Cage himself—are pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders,” said a New Line Cinema source.
From our survey of over 2,000 moviegoers, here are the top 10 most anticipated movies hitting theaters this Fall!
— Fandango (@Fandango) August 21, 2025
Let us know what you're excited to catch in theaters this Fall in the comments below👇 pic.twitter.com/igLAvLy7Zo
The cast features Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana with Sophia Xu as young Kitana, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden.
Joe Taslim as Bi-Han/Noob Saibot, Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, Desmond Chiam as King Jerrod, Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel, Max Huang as Kung Lao, and CJ Bloomfield as Baraka.
First teaser for ‘MORTAL KOMBAT 2’, starring Karl Urban as Johnny Cage.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 16, 2025
“Uncaged Fury, starring Johnny Cage” pic.twitter.com/PN0DFIStan
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