Karl Urban's Johnny Cage Unveiled in Mortal Kombat 2: Internet Reacts

The highly anticipated sequel, *Mortal Kombat 2*, is set to hit theaters this fall, following the successful 2021 reboot. Fans are eagerly dissecting every detail, from the film's budget and potential box office returns to the casting choices and possible release date changes. Let's explore the buzz surrounding the upcoming movie and see what the internet has to say about it. Round 1, fight!

For those of you who might have missed it, here's 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

One of the hot topics among fans is the shift in the franchise's main character. In the 2021 reboot, Cole Young, played by Lewis Tan, served as a newcomer to the series, guiding audiences through the story. However, many fans are expressing a desire to see more focus on 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 Cole Young might be stepping aside, with Johnny Cage, portrayed by Karl Urban, taking center stage. "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 noted. However, Urban's casting has sparked some debate, particularly regarding his age. "Who the hell made this thinking Karl Urban is the perfect guy for Johnny Cage?" one fan questioned, while another argued, "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 fan echoed this sentiment: "I'll never understand why they thought casting a 50-year-old to be Johnny Cage was a good idea."

Alternative casting suggestions for Johnny Cage included names like Glen Powell, Chris Evans, Austin Butler, Jack Quaid, and The Miz. Despite the criticism, some fans defended Urban's casting. "Have you seen the movie yet? People said the same thing about Ledger being The Joker," a Redditor 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 film's budget and potential box office performance are also under discussion. One fan predicted on a r/BoxOffice thread that the film would bring in around $250 million. "If the budget stays reasonable, that wouldn’t be too bad," another fan responded. A third fan suggested even higher returns: "Under $300 million," they wrote. "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 budget, one user noted that it would take double the first film's budget ($55 million) to make this sequel. "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 film's potential success. "Feel like this might bomb honestly. The first one wasn’t even well received, and I doubt people will be rushing out to see this sequel. Also, a 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 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.," one user responded.

Despite the mixed reactions, many fans are excited about the upcoming film. "The first one was good fun and I loved these silly action movies growing up," one Redditor wrote. "Looking forward to this." Another user 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 growing success of video game adaptations: "This sub really needs to stop underestimating Video Game Movies."

There's also speculation about a potential release date swap with Paul Thomas Anderson's upcoming film *One Battle After Another*, currently slated for August. "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, stating, "MK screams August, IMO."

The excitement and debate surrounding *Mortal Kombat 2* are palpable, and fans will undoubtedly keep the conversation going until its release. With a few months left to wait, we'll see how this sequel unfolds. K.O.

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