Sonya Blade actor Jessica McNamee hopes Kano will return in Mortal Kombat 2. Starring McNamee as Sonya, Josh Lawson as Kano, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Sisi Stringer as Mileena, and Lewis Tan as newcomer Cole Young, the 2021 Mortal Kombat served as a reboot of the 1995 film with a few significant differences. Mortal Kombat is the third live-action film in the video game-based franchise and largely enjoyed more praise from critics than the other two installments.
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A villain in the video game source material, Kano is known for his dishonesty, lack of loyalty, and cowardice. However, the character enjoyed an unexpected turn in 2021's Mortal Kombat due to the energy that Lawson brought to the role. Lawson brought a new charm and comedy to Kano greatly enjoyed by viewers, which made his seemingly out-of-character betrayal and subsequent death even more devastating. However, characters have a tendency to be resurrected in the Mortal Kombat franchise, leaving audiences wondering whether Lawson's Kano will make a comeback in the sequel.
In an exclusive Screen Rant interview with McNamee, she states her hopes for Kano's return in Mortal Kombat 2. McNamee, whose new film The Visitor premieres on October 7, also mentions her excitement over fan-favorite character Johnny Cage's involvement in the sequel. Check out what McNamee says below:
"I mean, I hope I'm in it. [Laughs] She's the badass bitch of the whole thing, so I don't think she's going anywhere. I know nothing about this movie, though. They are keeping that script under lock and key. I just hope for the fans' sake, and for my sake, that they bring in Johnny Cage. And I would be lying if I didn't say I'd miss having Josh Lawson back [as] Kano. I love that guy, and I love working with him. The great thing about Mortal Kombat is that they can kill people whenever they want, and they can also bring them back whenever they want. So, hopefully, they bring him back. That'd be great. But who knows? For all I know, I'm dead. [Laughs] No, I'm joking."
Could Kano Be Resurrected For Mortal Kombat 2?
McNamee's Sonya killed Kano at the end of Mortal Kombat by stabbing him through the eye that fired his laser beam. Due to Kano's laser beam abilities coming from his cybernetic head and heart implants, it's possible that his implants could be retrofitted into new cybernetics, allowing him to be resurrected. If Kano were to come back to life, it's possible that Mortal Kombat 2 would lean into the story seemingly set up by the 2021 film, making Lawson's Kano an antihero and allowing him to reconnect with the characters he previously betrayed. Mortal Kombat 2 could also create a Kano closer to his video game counterpart by leaning into his villainous turn, hopefully retaining the same humor that Lawson brought to the role in the first film.
Information about Mortal Kombat 2 has confirmed that the sequel will mend many of the issues pointed out by viewers in the 2021 film. Among the most exciting confirmations, reports have stated that a real Mortal Kombat tournament will feature in the next film, and writer Jeremy Slater confirmed that Johnny Cage will appear. Fans of the video game based franchise will be glad to learn that Mortal Kombat 2 just marks one of multiple Mortal Kombat projects in development, meaning the film likely won't be the last place that viewers will see Earth's greatest champions.