Josh Lawson looking stern with a glowing red eye as Kano in Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon explains why Mortal Kombat 2 is bringing back dead characters, revealing how the movie is able to see their return. The cast of Mortal Kombat 2 will see the return of deceased characters like Kano (Josh Lawson) and Kung Lao (Max Huang). Both characters died in the previous film, with Kano having been killed by Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee) and Kung Lao having his soul taken by Shang Tsung (Chin Han). However, with their return, the budding movie franchise has opened the door for deceased character stories to continue.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Boon explained how Mortal Kombat 2‘s inclusion of the NetherRealm will explain how dead characters are able to come back to life. The creator explained how spirits are going to be an important concept to the sequel, allowing dead characters to return. It also means more characters who are dead can get a second chance at life in the forthcoming sequel. Check out what Boon had to say below:

I can say Josh Lawson doesn’t play Kano’s twin. We’ve killed a number of characters who are in Mortal Kombat 1 and our latest games. So we deal with spirits and the NetherRealm and things like that. There are ways to bring dead characters back.

What Boon’s Explanation Means For Mortal Kombat 2

Any Deceased Character Could Come Back

Scorpion and Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat 2021 Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion alongside Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat 2021 An edited image of Karl Urban as Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2 next to the Mortal Kombat logo. Custom image of Goro and Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat 2021. Custom image from Scorpion in Mortal Kombat Scorpion and Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat 2021 Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion alongside Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat 2021 An edited image of Karl Urban as Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2 next to the Mortal Kombat logo. Custom image of Goro and Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat 2021. Custom image from Scorpion in Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat ended with a number of characters dead, most prominently when Cole Young (Lewis Tan) and Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) teamed up to kill Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim). It’s already been confirmed that the deceased ancient warriors will be coming back, even if the story isn’t directly focused on their conflict with one another. The biggest introduction will be Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage, serving as a new central character to help in the upcoming tournament. This means he’ll likely be facing off with many a deceased character in his own battles ahead.

Since the upcoming sequel will be focused on the NetherRealm, the dead characters from the original movie will still have plenty to do as the tournament unfolds. The spirits of ancient warriors like Scorpion could assist the living team members in their upcoming fight, while others like Kano and Sub-Zero may continue to prove constant threats. Some characters getting introduced, like Kitana (Adeline Rudolph) and Shao Khan (Martyn Ford) may also have connections to the dead, explaining how their stories weave into the wider narrative.

Mortal Kombat 2 is directed by Simon McQuoid and written by Jeremy Slater.

Our Take On Mortal Kombat 2 Reintroducing Dead Characters

It Makes Sense To Keep Including Familiar Faces

An edited image of Josh Lawson as Kano in 2021's Mortal Kombat with a green background.Custom Image by Yeider Chacon

Since so many popular characters in Mortal Kombat 2 were already dead by the end of the first movie, introducing the NetherRealm gives the films a perfect explanation to recycle old fighters. While it slightly dampens the permanence of the deaths in the first movie, it’s still accurate to the structure of the games and the use of realms overall. How it will play into the story moving forward remains to be seen, especially as the next fighting tournament begins.

Mortal Kombat 2 arrives in theaters on October 25, 2025.