Excitement is building for the upcoming release of *Mortal Kombat 2*, slated for this fall. Following the 2021 reboot, fans are eagerly dissecting every detail—from the film's budget and potential earnings to casting choices and possible release date changes. With first looks at Johnny Cage (played by Karl Urban), Kitana, Shao Kahn, and Scorpion already released, the internet is buzzing with predictions and opinions about this highly anticipated sequel. Let's delve into what fans are saying and what they expect from *Mortal Kombat 2*. Round 1, fight!
For those of you who might have missed it. Here is a first look at the Mortal Kombat 2 movie! Includes shots of Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) Kitana, Shao Kahn and Scorpion! https://t.co/RenOSjHNg0 pic.twitter.com/4uoTdxQfdE
— Ed Boon (@noobde) March 17, 2025
One hot topic is the franchise's new protagonist introduced in the 2021 reboot, Cole Young, portrayed by Lewis Tan. While Cole serves as a relatable character for new audiences, many fans express a preference for established characters to take center stage. "I really enjoyed the remake except for the new character they created for no reason. Hopefully, he takes a backseat in this one," a fan commented. Another fan hinted at a shift in focus, saying, "He isn't the main character anymore, Johnny is. [OK] I'm not sure if it's Johnny but a lot of leaks have said he isn't the MC anymore."
The casting of Karl Urban as Johnny Cage has stirred significant debate. Some fans question the choice due to Urban's age. "Who the hell made this thinking Karl Urban is the perfect guy for Johnny Cage?" one fan remarked, while another noted, "I like Karl Urban but at 49 he is miscast and doesn't have the outlandish optimistic charisma that Cage has in the lore." Suggestions for alternative actors like Glen Powell, Chris Evans, Austin Butler, Jack Quaid, or The Miz have surfaced. However, Urban has his defenders, with one fan arguing, "Have you seen the movie yet? People said the same thing about Ledger being The Joker. While I’m not suggesting this movie or performance will be anywhere on that level, I think it's unfair to suggest Urban can't pull it off. The dude has been really good in a ton of very different roles." Another fan humorously added, "Primitive monkey brain triggers ‘Karl Urban in movie, take my money.’"
Financial aspects of the sequel are also under discussion. On a r/BoxOffice thread, one fan predicted that *Mortal Kombat 2* could earn around $250 million at the box office. "If the budget stays reasonable, that wouldn’t be too bad," another fan replied. An even more optimistic fan suggested, "Under $300 million. But it’ll do huge on streaming. It doesn’t need no more than a 5-6 week long theater run."
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The budget for *Mortal Kombat 2* has been a point of contention, with one fan noting it would take double the first film's budget ($55 million) to produce. "This probably made sense when the budget was less than the first but then strike delays blew it up." Filming was paused in July 2023 due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes but resumed in November 2023, wrapping up by January 2024.
Some fans are skeptical about the sequel's success. "Feel like this might bomb honestly. First one wasn’t even well received and I doubt people will be rushing out to see this sequel. Also, a weird late October release date," one fan observed, suggesting a release date change. "If I was WB, I would push Zach Cregger’s Weapons up to late October and push this to January or February 2026." However, others believe that Karl Urban's popularity from *The Boys* could boost the film's performance. "I think you’re underestimating how big The Boys is, it has 55 million international viewers. I think the movie will do solid even outside the U.S.," a fan countered.
Despite the mixed opinions, many fans are enthusiastic about the film. "First one was good fun and I loved these silly action movies growing up," one Redditor shared. "Looking forward to this." Another fan expressed excitement, saying, "F—k me but I’m excited for it. I liked the first one. It was corny but it’s Mortal Kombat which isn’t high art." A third fan noted, "This sub really needs to stop underestimating Video Game Movies."
There's also a rumor that *Mortal Kombat 2* might shift to the August slot currently held by Paul Thomas Anderson's upcoming film *One Battle After Another*. "That would make more sense," a fan suggested. "The PTA movie would get a Venice premiere and awards season, while Mortal Kombat gets late summer." Another fan added, "MK screams August, IMO."
As we await the release of *Mortal Kombat 2*, it's clear that fans are deeply engaged and passionate about this sequel. Whether skeptical or excited, the conversation around the film continues to grow. We'll keep discussing and anticipating what *Mortal Kombat 2* has in store until its release. K.O.
What are your thoughts on *Mortal Kombat 2*? Share them in the comments below!
