Mortal Kombat II: All characters & lore explained

The second trailer for Mortal Kombat II just arrived during the 2026 IGN Fan Fest. Following an unexpected delay, the next installment to the rebooted Mortal Kombat film series is set to land in theaters on May 8, 2026. Although we didn't learn too much in the newest trailer, there were some snippets of characters not shown in the first trailer, and more.

This article breaks down everything you need to know about the Mortal Kombat II movie, including each character's presumed role in the movie versus the games and more.

The 2021 Mortal Kombat film acted as a precursor to everything that would unfold in its sequel, Mortal Kombat II. We learned about each fighter, from familiar faces like Liu Kang and Raiden to newcomer Cole Young. Additionally, the movie introduced one of the more controversial elements, where the fighters gained special powers through something called "Arcana."

Without diving too deep, Raiden's Earthrealm forces fought and successfully defeated their Outworld enemies. The likes of Kung Lao, Mileena, Nitara, Goro, Reiko, Sub-Zero, Kano, and Reptile all lost their lives in the process. However, some will return in Mortal Kombat II, as we'll explain shortly.

The upcoming film effectively picks up where the 2021 iteration left off, with the tournament the entire series is named after. Outworld is on the precipice of its tenth consecutive victory in Mortal Kombat, which would grant it control of Earthrealm. Led by Outworld Emperor Shao Kahn, the forces of Earthrealm must successfully defeat their opponents to keep their realm safe from invasion.

By all accounts, Mortal Kombat II will feature a proper tournament format, unlike the 1995 Mortal Kombat film, where everyone just fought each other. We will also see the addition of new characters to the rebooted series, including Johnny Cage, Kitana, Jade, Quan Chi, Sindel, Baraka, and Noob Saibot, none of whom appeared in the 2021 film.

A washed-up Hollywood actor living off his former glory. Raiden and Sonya Blade pay him a visit to recruit him to fight for Earthrealm in Mortal Kombat. Based on the trailers, it takes him some time to adjust to what the broader universe has to offer. It's worth noting that this version is a bit older than the Johnny Cage depicted in the first two Mortal Kombat games.

Kitana is the princess of Edenia and the daughter of King Jerrod and Queen Sindel. The video game series tells the story of how Shao Kahn killed King Jerrod and forced Sindel into a marriage, making Kitana his adopted daughter. Barring any changes, everything we've seen thus far lines up with Kitana's portrayal in the games. Early reports indicate she and Johnny Cage will be the main protagonists.

The aforementioned Emperor of Outworld is the film's primary antagonist. His entire storyline in the original video game series revolves around winning Mortal Kombat by any means necessary and taking control of Earthrealm. That will be his driving force in this film.

An Outworld assassin, similar to Kitana, and also the princess's best friend. Her role in the film is somewhat unknown, but she does appear in a few fights in the first two trailers, including one against Kitana. It's worth noting that Jade is bald in Mortal Kombat II, whereas that's never been the case in the video game series. This decision has drawn massive criticism from Mortal Kombat's fanbase.

Father to Kitana and husband to Queen Sindel. He rules the realm of Edenia alongside Sindel in peace and harmony before Shao Kahn invades, kills Jerrod, and eventually merges Edenia with Outworld. He appears in the trailer fighting Shao Kahn but fares poorly.

A fighter belonging to the mutant Tarkatan species. He first appeared in Mortal Kombat II as one of the standout additions and has become a favorite amongst the fandom. The trailers have depicted him fighting only Johnny Cage, and his role beyond that is unknown. Fans have criticised Baraka's appearance in the film, which looks considerably different than his many game depictions.

The Queen of Edenia to King Jerrod and mother to Princess Kitana. She is forced into a marriage with Shao Kahn following his murder of King Jerrod. Kahn later brainwashes her into becoming an evil character known for her hair and scream. She notably appears fighting Sonya Blade in the trailers.

An Outworld sorcerer and necromancer similar to Shang Tsung. Quan Chi appears bald with face paint and is a resident of the Netherrealm, which is akin to hell in the Mortal Kombat universe. He appears briefly in the second trailer and appears to be the responsible party for resurrecting Kung Lao and potentially Kano. Quan Chi's role beyond that is unclear.

The de facto protagonist in the original Mortal Kombat series. He defeats Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn twice across the first three games and figures to play a sizeable role in Mortal Kombat II. In the 2021 film, he witnessed the death of his Shaolin brother, Kung Lao, and defeated the Outworld mercenary Kabal.

Liu Kang's fellow Shaolin Monk, known for his razor-sharp and even sharper wit. He shockingly died in Mortal Kombat 2021 when Shang Tsung stole his soul, not long after Lao split Nitara in two using his hat. He returns in Mortal Kombat II as a "revenant," an element of the NetherRealm era of Mortal Kombat games. Quan Chi resurrects him, and he will fight for Outworld.

The God of Thunder in the Mortal Kombat series, who functioned mainly as a guiding force in the 2021 film. He returns to this film as a fighter for Earthrealm, sporting his iconic outfit from Mortal Kombat II. According to the second trailer, he notably recruits Johnny Cage alongside Sonya Blade and will fight Shang Tsung.

The Outworld sorcerer who played the primary antagonist in the 2021 film. Upon losing to Earthrealm, Raiden banishes him to Outworld, where he works alongside Shao Kahn to prepare for the Mortal Kombat tournament. He appears in the trailer on the offensive against Raiden, and his role beyond that is unknown.

A new MMA-based character to the Mortal Kombat franchise and the main protagonist in the 2021 film. Cole Young was not received well by the fandom, and he appears to have a significantly reduced role in Mortal Kombat II. His powers include golden armor that absorbs damage and tonfas.

One-half of the two most iconic characters in the Mortal Kombat franchise. The previous film opened with Hanzo Hasashi's background before he became a hellbound spectre hellbent on seeking revenge against Sub-Zero. He concluded the 2021 movie by killing Sub-Zero and appears to fight alongside Earthrealm in Mortal Kombat II.

The other half of the two most characters in Mortal Kombat history. Bi-Han played the villain in the 2021 film, slaughtering Hanzo Hasashi's Shirai Ryu clan before killing Hasashi himself. He fights for Outworld, but Scorpion killed him to conclude Mortal Kombat 2021.

He returns in Mortal Kombat II as a shadow wraith commonly known as Noob Saibot. His design in this film draws from his appearance in Mortal Kombat 11.

A Special Forces soldier who fights for Earthrealm. She wasn't selected to fight in Mortal Kombat in the previous film, but eventually killed Kano and captured his "Arcana." Sonya then proceeded to kill Mileena before the movie concluded. She appears to fight Shao Kahn alongside Liu Kang and Sindel at separate points in Mortal Kombat II.

Also, a Special Forces soldier known for his bionic arms. The previous film pitted him against Sub-Zero early on, resulting in him losing both arms. He later receives weak metallic arms before unlocking his Arcana and earning his proper bionic arms. Jax killed Reiko in Mortal Kombat 2021, and he returns in Mortal Kombat II to fight for Earthrealm.

A character who many would consider the standout from Mortal Kombat 2021. His comedic timing shone through, adding a much-needed layer of levity to the film. Despite Sonya killing him in the previous film, he returns, presumably as a revenant, but he also appears fighting alongside Earthrealmers in the first two trailers. His powers include knife expertise and his bionic laser eye.

It's unknown who else could appear in this film, and whether anything has remained deliberately under wraps for the sake of surprise. Either way, we expect at least a few more trailers leading up to Mortal Kombat II's May 8, 2026, release date.