The highly anticipated sequel, *Mortal Kombat 2*, is set to hit theaters this fall, following the 2021 reboot. Fans are buzzing with excitement and curiosity about how this new installment will perform at the box office, and whether it will live up to their expectations. From analyzing the budget and potential earnings to scrutinizing the casting choices and release date, the online community is abuzz with discussions and predictions. Let's delve into what the internet is saying about the upcoming *Mortal Kombat 2*.
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 new film introduces a fresh dynamic with its character focus, as the 2021 reboot introduced Cole Young, played by Lewis Tan, who served as a new protagonist and a guide for new viewers into the *Mortal Kombat* universe. However, many fans have expressed a desire to shift the focus back to established characters 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 remarked, while 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 sparked significant debate, particularly regarding his age. "Who the hell made this thinking Karl Urban is the perfect guy for Johnny Cage?" one fan questioned, with another adding, "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 fans suggested alternative actors like Glen Powell, Chris Evans, Austin Butler, Jack Quaid, or The Miz might have been better suited for the role. However, others defended Urban's casting, 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 dude has been really good in a ton of very different roles."
The film's budget and potential box office earnings are also hot topics. One fan estimated the film could bring in around $250 million, with another suggesting, "If the budget stays reasonable, that wouldn’t be too bad." Another fan predicted even higher returns, stating, "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 discussions also touched on production delays due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes in July 2023, which paused filming until November 2023, with completion in January 2024. One fan expressed skepticism about the film's success, saying, "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." Another suggested a strategic release date swap, proposing, "If I was WB, I would push Zach Cregger’s Weapons up to late October and push this to January or February 2026."
Despite these concerns, some fans remain optimistic, citing Karl Urban's popularity from *The Boys*. "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 noted.
Enthusiasm for the film remains high among certain fans. "First one was good fun and I loved these silly action movies growing up. Looking forward to this," one fan 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 defended the genre, stating, "This sub really needs to stop underestimating Video Game Movies."
Rumors about a possible shift to an August release date, 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, saying, "MK screams August, IMO."
As we await the release of *Mortal Kombat 2*, it's clear that fans are deeply invested in the film's success. Whether it will meet the high expectations set by the community remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the conversation around *Mortal Kombat 2* will continue to be intense and engaging.
What do you think about Mortal Kombat 2? Let us know in the comments!
