5 Reasons to Be Excited for Mortal Kombat 2

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At long last, the long-awaited sneak peek for Mortal Kombat 2 has arrived, with Karl Urban’s portrayal of Johnny Cage being merely one reason among many to be eager for the upcoming sequel. The Mortal Kombat series made its big screen comeback in 2021 with the rebooted film Mortal Kombat. While it had some impressive aspects, particularly the movie’s outstanding opening and closing fight scenes involving Scorpion and Sub-Zero, the middle section encountered some problems. This is something that many cast and crew members from the Mortal Kombat franchise have emphasized, stating that Mortal Kombat 2 has taken note of these issues. As evidenced by the film’s first trailer, it appears that these lessons have been put into practice.

In the continuation of its predecessor’s storyline, the action-packed film “Mortal Kombat 2” finds Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), a renowned actor, being summoned by Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano) to join an elite group of warriors. Their mission is to participate in the Mortal Kombat tournament and safeguard Earthrealm from the threat of Outworld. The film maintains its R rating, showcasing numerous brutal fatalities, but this is only the start of the anticipation for “Mortal Kombat” enthusiasts regarding the sequel. Here are five compelling reasons to look forward to “Mortal Kombat 2”.

1) Mortal Kombat 2’s Fight Sequences Look Awesome

In any adaptation of the legendary fighting game Mortal Kombat, captivating martial arts battles are essential. The 2021 movie remake had impressive fight scenes featuring Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, and Lewis Tan as Cole Young, with their encounters serving as the highlights. However, some of the fights in between were marred by rough editing and the limited martial arts skills of certain actors being evident.

The trailer for Mortal Kombat 2 showcases a significant improvement with its impressive fight sequences, cleaner editing, and smoother transitions between stunt performers and cast members who may not be as skilled in martial arts. This is particularly evident in Karl Urban’s portrayal of Johnny Cage, while the fighting styles and editing also highlight the expertise of experienced martial artists like Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ludi Lin, and Max Huang. With its iconic special moves, supernatural elements, and fatalities, Mortal Kombat 2 seems poised to be one of the most thrilling and electrifying martial arts movies in 2025.

2) Mortal Kombat 2 Is Putting Johnny Cage Center Stage (& Going Full Meta With Him)

2021’s version of Mortal Kombat showcased numerous characters from both Earthrealm and Outworld, but it was Johnny Cage’s absence that stood out the most. The film hinted at Johnny joining forces with Cole Young in its climax, and it appears that Mortal Kombat 2 is planning a spectacular introduction for the action star. Although Mortal Kombat 2 leans heavily on its ensemble cast, Johnny Cage seems to be the central character. Karl Urban, known for his roles in Dredd and The Boys, lends a tougher edge to Johnny’s arrogant demeanor in this sequel.

Furthermore, the promotion for Mortal Kombat 2 is taking a playful approach by portraying Johnny Cage as an action movie star within the game’s universe. Before the official trailer release, they unveiled a mock trailer for his film “Uncaged Fury.” The marketing materials seen in the Mortal Kombat 2 trailer are inspired by ’90s action films, with “Hard to Cage” being a nod to Steven Seagal’s Hard to Kill, and the “Uncaged Fury” poster resembling that of 1996’s Mission: Impossible. By featuring a real-life action star with martial arts expertise as their main character, Mortal Kombat 2 is creatively exploring Johnny Cage’s background in an entertaining fashion.

3) Mortal Kombat 2 Has Gotten Some Great Endorsements

Before its release, Mortal Kombat 2 has received some notable endorsements from industry figures who have already seen it. One of the most vocal supporters is Indonesian action and horror filmmaker Timo Tjahjanto, who declared on Twitter that Mortal Kombat 2 is fantastic. What makes Tjahjanto’s support interesting is his impressive background in action films. Tjahjanto has directed or co-directed successful martial arts action movies like Headshot, The Night Comes For Us, and The Shadow Strays. These films are known for their exceptional martial arts sequences and high levels of violence, making them similar to Mortal Kombat, but without the supernatural elements.

As a die-hard Mortal Kombat fan, I can’t help but be intrigued by Timo Tjhajanto’s endorsement of Mortal Kombat 2, and so is the legendary co-creator Ed Boon. Interestingly enough, Boon’s voice was conspicuously absent during the promotion of the 2021 Mortal Kombat, but that’s a stark contrast with Mortal Kombat 2. Boon has been praising the sequel on Twitter/X, even sharing a photo with cast members Lewis Tan, Chin Han, and Martyn Ford, expressing his early enthusiasm. Although Ed Boon might have taken a backseat for the 2021 reboot, his excitement for it, combined with Tjhajanto’s, certainly piqued my interest as a Mortal Kombat fan, and even more so after the release of the trailer for Mortal Kombat 2.

4) The Mortal Kombat Tournament Will Finally Be Featured

The 2021 film “Mortal Kombat” chose an unanticipated path, setting its story before the actual Mortal Kombat tournament. It primarily focused on Earthrealm’s warriors preparing for the event, culminating in a battle resembling a tournament in the third act. This was intentional, as co-writer Greg Russo revealed plans for a “Mortal Kombat” trilogy, with each movie taking place before, during, and after the tournament. With the first part covered in “Mortal Kombat”, this paves the way for “Mortal Kombat 2” to delve into the actual Mortal Kombat tournament that will decide Earthrealm’s fate.

In the climax of Mortal Kombat, Earthrealm’s combatants effectively compel Outworld into a kind of contest, with Shang Tsung and his accomplices attempting to eliminate Earthrealm’s fighters before the actual tournament. Although it provides a brief overview of the tournament details, the Mortal Kombat finale, particularly the intense two-versus-one battle between Cole and Scorpion against Sub-Zero, hinted at the potential for an R-rated Mortal Kombat tournament on the silver screen. With the series blueprint laid out and Johnny Cage ready to join the fray, viewers can now securely fasten their seatbelts for a gory Mortal Kombat 2 tournament (with co-writer Jeremy Slater also providing intriguing insights about the tournament in an interview with ComicBook).

5) Bi-Han Goes From One Mortal Kombat Character to Another in Mortal Kombat 2

In the action-packed movie “Mortal Kombat,” Joe Taslim’s character, Bi-Han, better known as Sub-Zero, was a standout. This is noteworthy because it was the first time Sub-Zero appeared as the final boss in any live-action adaptation of “Mortal Kombat.” Taslim’s fight scenes were particularly impressive within the series, and he masterfully portrayed Sub-Zero with a captivating mix of villainous allure and chilling cruelty. Despite Bi-Han’s demise at the hands of Hiroyuki Sanada’s vengeful Scorpion, fans of “Mortal Kombat” are aware that Sub-Zero is only half of his story. Taslim is set to reappear in “Mortal Kombat 2” as Noob Saibot.

In Mortal Kombat 2, it seems they’re sticking with the game’s established storyline, where Bi-Han is the original Sub-Zero and becomes the evil Noob Saibot from the Netherrealm, renewing his deadly feud with Scorpion. Despite Kuai Liang, Bi-Han’s younger brother and subsequent Sub-Zero, not appearing to be in Mortal Kombat 2 (unless there’s a secret reveal), Joe Taslim’s character, the Lin Kuei warrior Bi-Han, is ready to bring more villainy to his confrontation with Scorpion in Mortal Kombat 2. This adds fuel to the excitement of Mortal Kombat fans anticipating the sequel.

Mortal Kombat 2 will be released in theaters on October 24th.

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2025-07-22 23:40