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

The highly anticipated sequel, *Mortal Kombat 2*, is set to hit theaters this fall, following the 2021 reboot that left fans buzzing with excitement and speculation. With new casting announcements featuring Johnny Cage (played by Karl Urban), Kitana, Shao Khan, and Scorpion, the internet is abuzz with discussions about the film's potential success, budget, and release strategy. Let's delve into the online chatter and see what fans are predicting for this 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 main character, Cole Young, introduced in the 2021 reboot. Played by Lewis Tan, Cole serves as a newcomer to the Mortal Kombat universe, providing an entry point for new viewers. However, many fans are eager to see a shift in focus 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 expressed. 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 sentiment is clear: fans are ready for Johnny Cage to take the spotlight, especially with Karl Urban's top billing and prominent placement in promotional materials.

Karl Urban's casting as Johnny Cage has sparked both enthusiasm and debate. Some fans question his suitability for the role, particularly citing his 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 included Glen Powell, Chris Evans, Austin Butler, Jack Quaid, and The Miz. Yet, Urban has his defenders as well. "Have you seen the movie yet? People said the same thing about Ledger being The Joker," a fan countered. "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 budget and potential box office performance of *Mortal Kombat 2* are also under scrutiny. One fan estimated that the film could bring in around $250 million, suggesting, "If the budget stays reasonable, that wouldn’t be too bad." Another speculated even higher, predicting "Under $300 million, but it’ll do huge on streaming. It doesn’t need no more than a 5-6 week long theater run." Discussions also touched on the film's increased budget due to delays from the SAG-AFTRA strikes, which halted filming in July 2023 before resuming in November and wrapping up by January 2024.

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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 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, some 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.," another fan argued.

Despite the mixed reactions, excitement for *Mortal Kombat 2* remains high among many fans. "First one was good fun and I loved these silly action movies growing up," one Redditor shared. "Looking forward to this." Another fan 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 emphasized the potential of video game movies, stating, "This sub really needs to stop underestimating Video Game Movies."

There's also talk about a possible shift in the release date to August, currently held by Paul Thomas Anderson's *One Battle After Another*. "That would make more sense," one user suggested. "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 *Mortal Kombat 2*'s release, the online community continues to buzz with anticipation and speculation. Whether it's about the casting choices, potential box office performance, or the optimal release date, one thing is clear: fans are eager to see how this sequel will unfold. K.O.

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