With Hollywood now on strike, production is expected to be halted on Mortal Kombat 2 along with countless other major productions.
However, right before the strike began, NetherRealm Studios' Ed Boon took to Twitter (via SFFGazette.com) to share a first look at Karl Urban as Johnny Cage. It's unclear whether the actor is in costume here, though we're anticipating this version of the character being a washed-up Hollywood star.
With that in mind, he may not initially be as flashy as his video game counterpart.
As well as no longer rocking his trademark beard, the actor has frosted tips in his hair, a style which definitely makes sense for a character like Johnny. Many fans were surprised when Urban was cast in the role, though we're guessing this is a character he'll have a lot of fun with in the sure-to-be action-packed follow-up.
The first movie debuted during the height of the pandemic but still managed to find a modicum of success at the box office. Crucially, it rapidly became one of Max's biggest streaming hits, proving there's a lot of interest among moviegoers to see these iconic video game characters battle it out in live-action.
The movie stars Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Mehcad Brooks as Jackson "Jax" Briggs, Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim as Noob Saibot, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, Desmond Chiam as King Jerrod, Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel, and Damon Herriman as Quan Chi.
New cast additions include Urban as Johnny Cage, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, and Adeline Rudolph as Kitana.
Moon Knight Head Writer Jeremy Slater has penned the screenplay, while Simon McQuoid is back in the director's chair. According to a brief logline, "The sequel continues the story of a group of ragtag fighters, versed in the ways of martial arts, who defend our reality which is known in Earthrealm against the Outworld."
Mortal Kombat 2 doesn't currently have a confirmed release date.