The Internet Reacts to Mortal Kombat 2's Reveal of Karl Urban's Johnny Cage

The excitement is palpable among fans as the release of the "Mortal Kombat 2" movie approaches this fall. Following the 2021 reboot, the sequel is under intense scrutiny, with fans analyzing everything from its budget and potential earnings to casting choices and possible release dates. Let's delve into the internet's collective thoughts and predictions about this eagerly awaited film. 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

The franchise's decision to introduce Cole Young, played by Lewis Tan, as the main character in the 2021 reboot has sparked significant debate. Cole, a newcomer to the series, serves as an entry point for new viewers but has left some fans longing for a more established character to take the spotlight. "I really enjoyed the remake except for the new character they created for no reason. Hopefully he takes a backseat in this one," expressed one fan, 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 casting of Karl Urban as Johnny Cage has stirred both excitement and skepticism. While some fans are thrilled at the prospect of Urban leading the charge, others question the choice due to his age. "Who the hell made this thinking Karl Urban is the perfect guy for Johnny Cage?" one fan remarked, 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 like Glen Powell, Chris Evans, Austin Butler, Jack Quaid, or The Miz were floated, yet 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." In a lighter vein, another fan quipped, "Primitive monkey brain triggers ‘Karl Urban in movie, take my money.’"

Financial projections for "Mortal Kombat 2" are also a hot topic. On a r/BoxOffice thread, one fan predicted the film could earn around $250 million, with another suggesting, "If the budget stays reasonable, that wouldn’t be too bad." A more optimistic fan speculated it could reach under $300 million and perform well on streaming platforms: "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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Budget considerations have been influenced by production delays. Filming for "Mortal Kombat 2" was paused in July 2023 due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes but resumed in November 2023, wrapping up by January 2024. One fan commented on the budget, "This probably made sense when the budget was less than the first but then strike delays blew it up."

Not all fans are optimistic about the sequel's performance. One expressed concern, "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 schedule include pushing Zach Cregger's "Weapons" to late October and delaying "Mortal Kombat 2" to early 2026. However, others believe Karl Urban's role in "The Boys" 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."

Amidst the speculation, some fans are simply excited for the film. "First one was good fun and I loved these silly action movies growing up," shared one enthusiast. "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 argued, "This sub really needs to stop underestimating Video Game Movies."

There's also chatter about potential changes to the release date, with some suggesting a move to August, currently reserved for Paul Thomas Anderson’s "One Battle After Another." "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, the buzz around "Mortal Kombat 2" is undeniable. With months until its release, the conversation will only grow louder. K.O.

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