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

The buzz around the upcoming "Mortal Kombat 2" movie, set to hit theaters this fall, is palpable among fans. Following the 2021 reboot, anticipation is high, and fans are dissecting every detail—from the film's budget and box office potential to casting choices and possible release date changes. Let's delve into the online chatter and see what fans are predicting and discussing about this eagerly awaited 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

One of the hot topics is the franchise's new protagonist introduced in the 2021 reboot, Cole Young, portrayed by Lewis Tan. Cole serves as a newcomer to the lore, making him a perfect vehicle for exposition. However, many fans are vocal about preferring a shift in focus to established characters. One fan remarked, "I really enjoyed the remake except for the new character they created for no reason. Hopefully he takes a backseat in this one." Another hinted at a change, 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 both excitement and controversy. While some fans are thrilled, others 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 queried, 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 included Glen Powell, Chris Evans, Austin Butler, Jack Quaid, and The Miz. However, Urban's defenders 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." Another fan humorously added, "Primitive monkey brain triggers ‘Karl Urban in movie, take my money.’"

The film's budget and potential box office performance are also under scrutiny. One fan estimated on a r/BoxOffice thread that the movie could rake in around $250 million. "If the budget stays reasonable, that wouldn’t be too bad," another fan responded. Another predicted a higher return, "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

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The budget discussions took a turn when it was revealed that the sequel's budget had ballooned due to delays caused by the SAG-AFTRA strikes in July 2023. Filming resumed in November 2023 and concluded by January 2024. One fan noted, "This probably made sense when the budget was less than the first but then strike delays blew it up."

There's a mix of optimism and skepticism regarding the film's success. Some fans fear a box office bomb, with one stating, "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." Suggestions for adjusting the release date include pushing "Zach Cregger’s Weapons" to late October and delaying "Mortal Kombat 2" to January or February 2026. Others believe Karl Urban's popularity from "The Boys" could boost the film's performance, with one fan saying, "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."

Despite the mixed reactions, excitement for "Mortal Kombat 2" remains strong. "First one was good fun and I loved these silly action movies growing up," one fan shared. "Looking forward to this." Another added, "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 urged, "This sub really needs to stop underestimating Video Game Movies."

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

No matter their stance, fans are buzzing about "Mortal Kombat 2." With months to go until its release, the conversation will undoubtedly continue to heat up. K.O.

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