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

Excitement is building among fans as the release of the *Mortal Kombat 2* movie approaches this fall. Following the 2021 reboot, anticipation is high, with fans eagerly dissecting everything from the film's budget to the casting choices and potential box office performance. Let's explore the buzz surrounding this sequel and see what the internet is saying about it. Round 1, fight!

For those of you who might have missed it, here is a first look at the *Mortal Kombat 2* movie! It 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 new main character introduced in the 2021 reboot, Cole Young, played by Lewis Tan, has sparked a lot of debate. As a character unfamiliar with the franchise's lore, he served as an effective entry point for new viewers but has not won over all fans. "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 expressed, while another hinted at a shift in focus, "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 consensus among many fans seems to be that they prefer established characters taking the spotlight. "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 stated about Karl Urban's portrayal of Johnny Cage.

However, the choice of Karl Urban for Johnny Cage has stirred mixed reactions, particularly due to his age. "Who the hell made this thinking Karl Urban is the perfect guy for Johnny Cage?" one fan questioned, while another remarked, "I like Karl Urban but at 49 he is miscast and doesn't have the outlandish optimistic charisma that Cage has in the lore." A third user echoed, "I'll never understand why they thought casting a 50-year-old to be Johnny Cage was a good idea."

Alternative casting suggestions included names like Glen Powell, Chris Evans, Austin Butler, Jack Quaid, and The Miz. Yet, some fans defended Urban's casting, with one 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 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 box office potential are also hot topics. One fan on r/BoxOffice predicted the film could bring in around $250 million, with another stating, "If the budget stays reasonable, that wouldn’t be too bad." Another speculated 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."

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In response to concerns about the film's budget, one user noted, "This probably made sense when the budget was less than the first but then strike delays blew it up." *Mortal Kombat 2*'s production faced delays due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes, halting filming in July 2023, resuming in November 2023, and wrapping up by January 2024.

Some fans expressed skepticism about the film'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," one fan said, suggesting a potential release date shift for better performance. "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 involvement could boost the film's appeal. "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 user responded.

Despite the mixed reactions, many fans are excited for the film. "First one was good fun and I loved these silly action movies growing up," one Redditor 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 talk of a potential release date swap with Paul Thomas Anderson's *One Battle After Another*, currently slated for August. "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 opinions, fans are undeniably passionate about *Mortal Kombat 2*. With months to go before its release, the discussions will continue to heat up. One thing is certain: we'll be talking about it until the final bell. K.O.

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