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

The anticipation for the upcoming "Mortal Kombat 2" movie, set to release this fall, is palpable among fans. Following the 2021 reboot, the sequel has sparked a flurry of discussions and predictions, ranging from its budget and box office potential to casting choices and release date speculations. Let's dive into what the internet is buzzing about regarding this eagerly awaited film.

For those of you who might have missed it, here's 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 franchise's new main character, Cole Young, introduced in the 2021 reboot and portrayed by Lewis Tan, has stirred a mix of reactions. While some fans appreciate his role as a vehicle for exposition, others are eager to see the focus shift to a more established character from the franchise. "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 fan 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."

Johnny Cage, portrayed by Karl Urban, has been a hot topic. Many fans are thrilled about his prominent role, with one Redditor noting, "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." However, Urban's casting has also raised eyebrows due to his age. "Who the hell made this thinking Karl Urban is the perfect guy for Johnny Cage?" one fan questioned, while another argued, "I like Karl Urban but at 49 he is miscast and doesn't have the outlandish optimistic charisma that Cage has in the lore." Some suggested alternative actors like Glen Powell, Chris Evans, Austin Butler, Jack Quaid, or The Miz. Yet, Urban has his defenders, with one fan stating, "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 film's budget and potential box office performance are also under scrutiny. A fan on r/BoxOffice suggested the film could bring in around $250 million, with another responding, "If the budget stays reasonable, that wouldn't be too bad." Another fan predicted, "Under $300 million. But it'll do huge on streaming. It doesn't need no more than a 5-6 week long theater run." The budget increased due to strike delays, with filming resuming in November 2023 and wrapping up by January 2024.

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Despite the optimism, some fans fear the sequel might not fare well at the box office. "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," one fan expressed. Another suggested a different release strategy, "If I was WB I would push Zach Cregger's Weapons up to late October and push this to January or February 2026." However, Karl Urban's involvement in "The Boys" might boost the film's appeal, as one user noted, "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."

Excitement for the film is also evident among fans. "First one was good fun and I loved these silly action movies growing up. Looking forward to this," one Redditor shared. 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 encouraged a more positive outlook on video game movies, "This sub really needs to stop underestimating Video Game Movies."

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

As we await the release of "Mortal Kombat 2," the fanbase remains highly engaged and opinionated. The coming months will reveal whether the film meets the high expectations set by its predecessor and the passionate community behind it.

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