Spoilers for the Mortal Kombat 2021 video game and movie series follow. Mortal Kombat has hit theaters in the United States and on HBO Max. The latest film adaptation of the iconic video game series is an average movie at best, but if it does well enough, Warner Bros. could opt to greenlight a suite or two. Sub-Zero actor Joe Taslim has already revealed that he could appear in four more Mortal Kombat movies if Warner Bros. moves forward with the next installments. Considering there's a sizable roster of Mortal Kombat characters these days, the sequels wouldn't have a hard time introducing new characters. We already know of a fan favorite that would show up if Mortal Kombat 2 were to start development, but what about other inclusions? Here are our picks for seven other characters, in no particular order, that we'd love to see make the cut in a Mortal Kombat sequel:
ermac
(Image credit: Warner Bros.) Let's start with a character that could be used in a really fun way. Originally a supposed problem in the first Mortal Kombat game, which turned out to be nothing more than a rumor, Ermac is a telekinetic ninja made up of the many souls destroyed by the wars in Outworld. As someone who has joined forces with both good and bad people in gaming, Ermac would make an intriguing addition to the film series. Having someone swap allegiances at the drop of a hat would add a new dimension to the battle between Raiden and Shang Tsung's forces, and could potentially tip any contest in favor of either party. Ermac's inclusion could also be used as a joke. In the movie, someone like Johnny Cage (more on him in a bit) could be referring to the fact that Ermac is nothing more than a mythical being before Ermac finally shows up. He would be a cheeky nod to video game origins and is sure to delight fans as a result.
Cassie Cage
(Image credit: Warner Bros.) Yes, we'll already have Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2 (judging by the final scene of the first movie), so introducing another Cage might be a stretch. Cassie, however, could add a major plot twist to the sequel. In the video game series, Cassie is the daughter of Johnny and Sonya Blade. While there's no indication that Sonya has a child in the first film, there is a way for a sequel to fix this. As we know, Johnny Cage saw him in Hollywood as a top-notch actor (if this poster is any good). It's possible that he was Cassie's sole guardian and that she would have ventured west with him if Johnny and Sonya went their separate ways in the movie world. Granted, Sonya's story in the Mortal Kombat movie may not add up if she had a daughter. As she tells Cole, Sonya was a former soldier who served under Jax and spent years trying to figure out what the Dragon Mark means. What if Johnny and Cassie were a part of her life after she got out of the army, and they left her because she became obsessed with finding out what the mark means? She could have kept this part of herself a secret from Cole and the others to save herself from further pain. Either way, it would be great to see Cassie show up. She wouldn't even have to be an adult in Mortal Kombat 2. She could be a child or even a teenager, and since the Mortal Kombat game series has already touched on time travel elements, the movie series could do the same. . We could get a time jump from Mortal Kombat 2 to Mortal Kombat 3 and, if a third episode is still on, that would allow Cassie to be an adult with her own abilities.
Kitana
(Image credit: Warner Bros.) A character who made her debut in Mortal Kombat II, Kitana's possible appearance in a second Mortal Kombat movie would be an ironic but worthy nod to her experience in the game. Another highly-skilled ninja assassin, Kitana would do two things for Mortal Kombat 2. First, he would begin to steer the cast away from its predominantly male lineup, since there were only three female characters in the first film. And secondly, it could be a love story with Liu Kang, which would be another reminder of his origins in video games. Like Ermac, Kitana has ties to one of Mortal Kombat's great villains, so the pair's additions to the Mortal Kombat 2 roster would make for an even stronger second installment thanks to those connections. Who is this antagonistic figure we are talking about? Well, check out our next pick below.
Shao khan
(Image credit: Warner Bros.) Yes, it's Shao Khan we're alluding to. Of course, adding him to the Mortal Kombat 2 cast might be a bit premature, as he is one of the most powerful villains in video game history and might be better suited for later. However, it would not be necessary to expand his role in the proceedings at this early stage. He could be used in a Thanos-like MCU role, with Shao Khan as the main villain that Raiden, Cole, and the other Champions of Earth must defeat to ultimately save Earthworld in future movies. A powerful tyrant who rules Outworld, Shao Khan has a multitude of superpowers and various weapons with which to take down his enemies. He would be the final boss of the Mortal Kombat movie series, so to speak, but there's no reason they can't tease him in a Mortal Kombat mid- or post-credits scene. He would definitely excite fans and hint at a bigger villain than Shang Tsung in the world of movies.
Kurtis stryker
(Image credit: Warner Bros.) If we go for characters that are more based on looks and personality — think Sonya Blade — then Kurtis Stryker would be a solid inclusion. Considered a joke when he debuted in Mortal Kombat 3, Stryker has become a cult favorite among some fans. A police officer by trade, he uses guns, grenades, and punches to take down his enemies, so he can replace Sonya Blade, who, spoilers, had his own superpowers at the end of the movie. Plus, Stryker is kind of a smart ass. Since Kano no longer exists, we'll need someone to bring the jokes along with Johnny Cage.
Wolf of the night
(Image credit: Warner Bros.) Mortal Kombat may have disappointed some fans when it comes to its plot, humor, and/or tributes, but it does well by portraying its characters just as they are portrayed in the video games. Unlike the 1995 film adaptation, there is no laundering of characters, such as Raiden; in the 2021 film, the cast is as representative as they come. If Mortal Kombat 2 is going to continue to promote diversity, it doesn't need to look any further than Nightwolf. One of the most prominent Native American video game characters of all time, Nightwolf would make a solid addition to a sequel. He is by no means overpowered, but he does have a wide range of weapons and abilities that would be useful for Champions of Earth. Additionally, he can channel his aura to produce an energy shield around himself and his allies, a defensive move that would be useful to Cole and the others.
Noob Saibot
(Image credit: Warner Bros.) It's a silly name for a character (based on Mortal Kombat creators Ed Boon and John Tobias), but Noob Saibot has appeared in the Mortal Kombat movie before. Yes, you read that right. Noob Saibot is Sub-Zero, except he's now a wraith instead of a frozen assassin. In the games, Sub-Zero is killed by his opponent Scorpion, and his soul descends to the fifth plane of the realm of the Netherlands. There, he is resurrected by the necromancer Quan Chi as Noob Saibot, a living embodiment of evil that has been stripped of everything that made him human. As we see in the Mortal Kombat movie, Sub-Zero apparently dies after Scorpion gets revenge on Sub-Zero for killing Scorpion's wife and child. The last time we see Sub-Zero is when Shang Tsung brings him back to Outworld, so we don't really know if he's dead. If Sub-Zero is dead, there is a chance that Shang Tsung will resurrect him, using Quan Chi or performing the task himself, as Noob Saibot. It would probably be a good idea to change his name so as not to confuse the audience, but Sub-Zero's resurrection would reignite his and Scorpion's feud in Mortal Kombat 2. He would be devoid of his ice-based powers, but his abilities shadow and ghost would make up for this loss. Today's best HBO Max deals