Karl Urban as Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2: Internet's Reaction

The excitement for the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 movie is palpable as fans eagerly await its fall release. Following the 2021 reboot, which introduced new elements to the franchise, the sequel promises to bring even more action and intrigue to the big screen. Discussions are rife with speculation about the film's budget, potential box office performance, casting choices, and even its release date. Let's delve into the online buzz and see what fans are saying about this much-anticipated sequel. 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

The 2021 reboot introduced Cole Young, played by Lewis Tan, as the franchise's new protagonist. However, many fans have expressed a desire to see the focus shift to established characters. "I really enjoyed the remake except for the new character they created for no reason. Hopefully he takes a backseat in this one," one fan commented. Another added, "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 both excitement and skepticism among fans. Some are thrilled, noting his prominent billing and features in promotional material. "Johnny is the main character this time 100%. Urban got top billing on the poster they released and he’s prominently featured in the first promo images," a Redditor observed. However, others question the choice, particularly citing Urban's age. "Who the hell made this thinking Karl Urban is the perfect guy for Johnny Cage?" one fan questioned, while another stated, "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 include Glen Powell, Chris Evans, Austin Butler, Jack Quaid, and The Miz. Defenders of Urban's casting argue, "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."

The budget and box office potential of Mortal Kombat 2 are also hot topics. One fan predicted on a r/BoxOffice thread that the film would bring in around $250 million. "If the budget stays reasonable, that wouldn’t be too bad," another fan replied. A third fan speculated, "Under $300 million. But it’ll do huge on streaming. It doesn’t need no more than a 5-6 week long theater run."

Mortal Kombat's Bizarre History of Movie and TV Adaptations

10 ImagesThe film's budget was affected by the SAG-AFTRA strikes, which halted production in July 2023. Filming resumed in November 2023 and was completed by January 2024. "This probably made sense when the budget was less than the first but then strike delays blew it up," one user commented.

Not everyone is optimistic 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 weird late October release date," a fan noted, suggesting a shift in the release calendar. "If I was WB I would push Zach Cregger’s Weapons up to late October and push this to January or February 2026." Others believe 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.," one fan countered.

Despite the mixed reactions, many fans remain enthusiastic about Mortal Kombat 2. "First one was good fun and I loved these silly action movies growing up," one Redditor shared. "Looking forward to this." Another fan expressed, "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 added, "This sub really needs to stop underestimating Video Game Movies."

There's also talk about a potential release date change to August, currently reserved for Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. "That would make more sense," one user noted. "The PTA movie would get a Venice premiere and awards season, while Mortal Kombat gets late summer." Another fan agreed, "MK screams August, IMO."

Regardless of differing opinions, the excitement for Mortal Kombat 2 is undeniable. As we count down the months until its release, the discussion will only intensify. K.O.

What do you think about Mortal Kombat 2? Let us know in the comments!