Mortal Kombat 2: Easter Egg Already Teased Kitana's Appearance

Mortal Kombat's biggest sequel hook may have been the Johnny Cage tease at the end, but the movie also set up Kitana's role in Mortal Kombat 2. Created in 1993 for Mortal Kombat II, Kitana is an ancient warrior born in the realm of Edenia. Kitana was raised as the adopted daughter of Shao Khan, Mortal Kombat’s main villain, but her loyalty doesn't always lie with the Outworld. Kitana has even fought alongside Earthrealm warriors on some occasions, and usually has a love interest in Liu Kang.

Kitana was one of the game characters to appear in 1995's Mortal Kombat, where she was played by Talisa Soto. Soto reprised her role as the now reformed Kitana in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, a film that explored more of the character's backstory by bringing her mother Sindel. Annihilation marked Kitana's last appearance on the big screen, as the 2021 Mortal Kombat reboot did not feature the character. That said, the movie did not completely ignore Kitana.

Midway through the film, it is possible to notice a bladed fan, Kitana's signature weapon in the Mortal Kombat games, as an easter egg on display in Raiden’s temple. The movie does not acknowledge the fan, but the scene is clearly framed in a way that highlights its presence. It is a very simple way to at least reference such an important character from Mortal Kombat, and it strongly suggests she may have a role in the sequel. Given Kitana's connection with Shao Khan, it makes sense the character is being saved for Mortal Kombat 2. The first Mortal Kombat was very much about introducing the core characters like Scorpion and the newly created Cole Young as well as setting up the world, with Shang Tsung's plans to prevent the tournament from happening as the main focus of the story. Now, Mortal Kombat 2 can expand on the scale and introduce the many other Mortal Kombat names who as Kitana were missing in the first film.

The biggest question is where Kitana’s loyalty would lie in Mortal Kombat 2. In the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie, Kitana and Liu Kang were interested in each other right from the start, and the movie strongly suggested that she would eventually turn on Shang Tsung. By the time of Annihilation, Kitana was already fully on the side of the heroes. Given how Kitana switching sides and betraying the Outworld is a plot point bound to happen considering the character's history, one thing Mortal Kombat 2 could do is focus on Kitana's role as an antagonist first, and leave the redemption part of it to the end of the movie or even to Mortal Kombat 3. That would make her story feel more earned, and her relationship with Liu Kang even more complex.

Kitana’s absence was felt in the Mortal Kombat reboot, but the bladed-fan easter egg reveals it may not take too long for the character to return to the big screen. Despite the mixed reviews, Mortal Kombat proved that it can at least deliver on the action and the visual effects that the world and warriors of Mortal Kombat deserve, and that’s good news for Kitana. It remains to be seen what her role in Mortal Kombat 2 will be, and which actor will bring the character to life if she is indeed in the film.

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