The Mortal Kombat games are highly loved by many for their incredible fighting game mechanics and a fearless showcase of fun-filled gore. Other than that, heavier fans also love the series for its backstory, lore, and characters. While a lot of them are easily accessible in the games, this is one factor about the series movie adaptations can easily play around with.
The Mortal Kombat series houses a ton of highly interesting and beloved characters. A lot of them are less-known, and some of them are fan favorites. These are characters the future Mortal Kombat movies can highly utilize, and with the release of the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie, there are a ton of characters from the Mortal Kombat gallery the potential sequel can introduce.
10 Kitana
Kitana is a character that was introduced in Mortal Kombat II. She was a princess hailing from Edenia before the realm was conquered by Outworld. Unaware of the entirety of her past, she remained loyal to Shao Kahn, the ruler of Outworld who also became his stepfather.
However, after considering the morals of Outworld's actions and learning the truth of her past, she eventually betrayed Shao Kahn and began siding with the warriors of Earthrealm. She also eventually shared a love interest with Liu Kang. Mileena, who appeared in the 2021 movie, is the mutant hybrid clone of Kitana.
9 Sheeva
Sheeva, like Prince Goro, is a Shokan warrior. Shokans are an ancient race of half-humans, half-dragons hailing from Outworld. They are notable for their impressive strength, ability to summon fireballs, and having four arms.
Sheeva eventually becomes the Queen of the Shokans after the death of Prince Goro and his father. She is also a faithful servant to Shao Kahn and Queen Sindel, acting as the latter's personal guard. With the death of Goro in the 2021 movie, Sheeva could fill the threat left behind by Goro's absence.
8 Baraka
Baraka is one of the many antagonists of the Mortal Kombat series. While the character is not as formidable a villain as the likes of Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn, Baraka has remained a constant threat against the heroes of Earthrealm.
Baraka mainly services under Mileena and Shao Kahn, but his loyalties ultimately lie on his race, the Tarkata. Baraka is a very terrifying enemy and his character design highlights that.
7 Quan Chi
In the world of Mortal Kombat, the heroes of Earthrealm don't only have the Outworld realm to worry about, there's also the Netherrealm, otherwise known as the Underworld. One prominent character hailing from Netherrealm is Quan Chi, a character that has gone against both Earthrealm and Outworld.
However, Quan Chi has occasionally sided with Outworld as well, particularly with Shang Tsung, for as long as it serves his purpose. He has also manipulated the likes of Scorpion. It is later revealed in the series that it was Quan Chi who was really responsible for the eradication of Scorpion's clan, the Shirai Ryu.
6 Sub-Zero (Kuai Liang)
Kuai Liang is the younger brother of Bi-Han, the original Sub-Zero. When Bi-Han died, and eventually resurrected as Noob Saibot, Kuai Liang eventually took on the Sub Zero mantle.
While Kuai Liang and Scorpion were initially hostile with one another, they both eventually made peace after Scorpion discovered that it was Quan Chi who was the actual perpetrator of his clan's massacre. Kuai Liang also became the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei clan. It is then he finally ended the long-standing rivalry between the two clans.
5 Cyrax
Cyrax is one of the three cybernetic ninjas created by the Lin Kuei clan. These cyborgs were created to make the members of the clan more cold-hearted and apathetic, resulting in them being more efficient in killing.
Cyrax specialized in hand-to-hand combat, which made him highly deadly and effective. He was tasked with hunting down Kuai Liang, also known as Sub Zero, who had abandoned the clan at the time. Before he could complete his task, though, Cyrax regained his humanity with the help of Sonya Blade and Jax Briggs. Since then, he has allied with them as thanks.
4 Motaro
Motaro is a Centaurian warrior who serves under Shao Kahn. Motaro, along with his race, has been in constant rivalry with the Shokan. Motaro and the Centaurian believe that their race is vastly superior to the Shokan. Since both races serve under Shao Kahn, they have been constantly at odds with one another to prove which race is the most valuable to their master.
Motaro possesses inhumane strength. His Centaurian physique also allows him to move around faster and for a longer period of time. Prince Goro's apparent death in the 2021 movie could allow for Motaro and his race to rise as servants of Outworld.
3 Sindel
Queen Sindel is the former queen of Edenia and became the wife of Shao Kahn after Outworld conquered her realm. In the original timeline, Sindel was believed to be a benevolent ruler of Edenia, only choosing to marry Shao Kahn to protect her people. This ordeal proved to be too much for her, so she chose to end her own life, only to be revived by Shao Kahn later on.
However, in the current timeline, her backstory was retconned. Now, it is revealed that Queen Sinden has always been evil, and she chose to marry Shao Kahn because she resented her former husband for his weakness and she fell in love with Shao Kahn's strength and dominance.
2 Shao Kahn
There is nothing more Shao Kahn loves than conquest. Shao Kahn is widely considered to be the main antagonist of the Mortal Kombat series, or at least, in the earlier games. Shao Kahn is the emperor of Outworld with god-like strength and power-hungry resolve.
A lot of the heroes in the series end up facing or being killed by Shao Kahn. He is only referenced in the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie, but because of the character's importance in the story of the series, he is bound to make his appearance in future installments.
1 Johnny Cage
Johnny Cage is one of the most recognizable and most beloved Mortal Kombat characters of all time. His appearance in the sequel, if ever it will get made, is an absolute certainty, judging by the movie's reveal in the ending.
Johnny Cage is a Hollywood movie star and a martial artist. Despite being initially naive, arrogant, and immature, he later learns the value of his humanity and becomes more mature. However, he still mainly acts as the series' main comic relief character. He also later develops a close friendship with Liu Kang and eventually marries Sonya Blade.