- Primary Subject: The resurrection of deceased characters Kano and Kung Lao in Mortal Kombat II
- Key Update: Writer Jeremy Slater explained why the fan-favorite characters are being brought back in the sequel.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: May 4, 2026
- Quick Answer: Kano and Kung Lao return because writer Jeremy Slater wanted to preserve their popular "tone." Their resurrections aren't simple; they involve significant, dark story consequences.
One of the biggest questions that fans have regarding Mortal Kombat II is why Kano and Kung Lao are returning despite their deaths in the first movie.
In the promotional materials for the upcoming movie, it was revealed that Kano and Kung Lao will be appearing in the sequel, which opens up a lot of questions among fans about why they are being brought back, given that they already died. Will the movie provide a sensible explanation on their return? What will be their involvement in the story?
Why Kano and Kung Lao Will Return in Mortal Kombat II
In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, Mortal Kombat II writer Jeremy Slater explained why they decided to bring back Kano and Kung Lao in the sequel.
He explained that he is a fan of the first movie, and he always wanted to resurrect the characters when he joined the project.
"I think it’s the fun of Mortal Kombat, honestly, it’s, it’s like, you know…before I took the job, one of the things I was like, ‘You have to let me bring Kano back to life’, because Josh Lawson was my favorite thing about the first movie," Slater said.
"I was like, ‘He’s the guy who understood the assignment, and that tone that he is hitting in this movie is the tone that I want this entire movie to have.’ So I’m like, ‘I have to bring Kano back. I have to bring Kung Lao back. I’ve got to get that hat in a fight scene and, and play with it. It’s too much fun, and he’s too cool of a character."
Slater did not explain how the sequel will resurrect the two characters, but he teased that their return will have some consequences.
"How do we use something that could be a liability – the sort of the resurrections – and make that a strength in this universe that, yes, there are, there are ways to bring people back, but sometimes there are consequences to those ways, or sometimes it’s not as, as clear cut or as simple as you may hope," he said.
Fans need to watch the movie when it releases in theaters to find out how Kano and Kung Lao will be brought back in the sequel.
What is Mortal Kombat II About?
Mortal Kombat II will see the fan favorite champions (now joined by Johnny Cage himself) pitted against one another in the ultimate, no-holds-barred, gory battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
Karl Urban stars as Johnny Cage, alongside Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, with Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han, and Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion.
Director Simon McQuoid returns to helm the follow-up to his explosive 2021 cinematic adventure, from a screenplay by Jeremy Slater, based on the video game created by Ed Boon and John Tobias.
The film is set to arrive in theaters on May 8. It will also be available in IMAX and other premium large formats.
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