New Mortal Kombat II Trailer Previews Bigger Battles and Bloodier Stakes

Written By Aedan Juvet

A new trailer for Mortal Kombat II has officially dropped, and it makes good on the tease that ended 2021’s reboot—the tournament is finally here, with Earthrealm’s fighters stepping into a bloodsport that could decide whether their world survives.

The latest footage puts Karl Urban front and center as Johnny Cage, introduced as a washed-up Hollywood action star who gets pulled into the fight after a blunt recruitment from Raiden and Sonya Blade. From there, the trailer pivots into what fans have been waiting for, a full-on bracket-style showcase of matchups, signature catchphrases, and a quick run of new fatalities designed for maximum big-screen impact.

Mortal Kombat II | New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures

Story-wise, the trailer keeps the stakes simple and high. Outworld’s tyrant Shao Kahn is ascending, and Earthrealm’s champions are forced into a no-holds-barred series of battles where the fighters are “pitted against one another” as the invasion clock ticks down. The official synopsis frames Cage as the missing piece, joining the fan-favorite roster to help stop Shao Kahn’s rule from wiping out Earthrealm and its defenders.

The new trailer also clarifies the sides. Cage, Cole Young, and Jax are shown fighting alongside returning heroes, while the villain bench stacks up fast, with Shao Kahn backed by game staples like Baraka, Sindel, and Quan Chi. The Scorpion vs. Sub-Zero rivalry is still in play too, with Bi-Han now appearing in his wraith form as Noob Saibot.

Alongside Urban, the cast includes Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, and CJ Bloomfield as Baraka. Returning from the first film are Lewis Tan (Cole), Jessica McNamee (Sonya), Ludi Lin (Liu Kang), Mehcad Brooks (Jax), Tadanobu Asano (Raiden), Josh Lawson (Kano), Chin Han (Shang Tsung), Joe Taslim (Bi-Han), and Hiroyuki Sanada (Scorpion), with Simon McQuoid back in the director’s chair.

Mortal Kombat II opens exclusively in theaters and IMAX on May 8, 2026, from New Line Cinema—distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Aedan Juvet

With bylines across more than a dozen publications including MTV News, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Teen, Bleeding Cool, Screen Rant, Crunchyroll, and more, Stardust’s Editor-in-Chief is entirely committed to all things pop culture.

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