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

Excitement is brewing among fans as the release of the "Mortal Kombat 2" movie approaches this fall. Following the 2021 reboot, anticipation is high to see how this sequel will fare in theaters. From budget discussions to casting choices, the internet is buzzing with predictions and opinions about the film. Let's delve into what fans are saying about the upcoming "Mortal Kombat 2".

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 new main character introduced in the 2021 reboot, Cole Young, played by Lewis Tan, has sparked debate among fans. While Cole served as an effective vehicle for exposition in the reboot, many fans are eager to shift 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 commented. 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 consensus seems to be that fans are thrilled about Johnny Cage, portrayed by Karl Urban, taking the spotlight.

However, Karl Urban's casting as Johnny Cage has sparked some controversy, particularly regarding his age. "Who the hell made this thinking Karl Urban is the perfect guy for Johnny Cage?" one fan questioned, while another noted, "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. Despite the criticism, some fans defended Urban, saying, "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 stated, "Primitive monkey brain triggers 'Karl Urban in movie, take my money.'"

Discussions about the sequel's budget and potential box office performance are also prevalent. One fan on a r/BoxOffice thread predicted the film would bring in around $250 million, stating, "If the budget stays reasonable, that wouldn’t be too bad." Another suggested it could reach under $300 million, emphasizing its potential success 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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Regarding the budget, one Redditor noted it would take double the first film’s budget ($55 million) to make this one, to which another responded, "This probably made sense when the budget was less than the first but then strike delays blew it up." Filming for "Mortal Kombat 2" was halted in July 2023 due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes but resumed in November 2023 and was completed by January 2024.

Some fans are skeptical 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," one fan remarked, suggesting a shift in the release calendar. "If I was WB I would push Zach Cregger’s Weapons up to late October and push this to January or February 2026." However, others believe Karl Urban's involvement could boost its performance, citing his role in "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."

Despite the varied opinions, many fans are eagerly anticipating "Mortal Kombat 2". "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 emphasized, "This sub really needs to stop underestimating Video Game Movies."

There's also talk of a potential release date swap, with some suggesting the movie might move to the August slot currently held by 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, stating, "MK screams August, IMO."

As the release date for "Mortal Kombat 2" approaches, fans continue to discuss and speculate. One thing is clear: the excitement for this sequel is palpable. We'll keep the conversation going until we see what the movie has in store. K.O.

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