Karl Urban’s Mortal Kombat 2 is stepping into serious blockbuster territory, and it’s taking a page from Robert Downey Jr.’s $2.799 billion Marvel playbook. The upcoming sequel is reportedly adopting the same high-stakes, character-driven formula that helped turn Avengers: Endgame into a global phenomenon.
With Urban suiting up as the fan-fave Johnny Cage, Mortal Kombat 2 looks poised to elevate the franchise with bigger action, deeper arcs, and that RDJ-style charisma. If the strategy lands, this could be the Mortal Kombat movie that finally levels up from cult classic to box office titan.
Test screenings say it all: Karl Urban’s Mortal Kombat 2 is landing punches like Endgame
Karl Urban’s Mortal Kombat 2 might be channeling Avengers: Endgame vibes, and no, that’s not an overstatement. According to screenwriter Jeremy Slater, early test screenings had fans “cheering and jumping out of their seats,” with every joke hitting like a flying uppercut. In his words:
They were cheering and jumping out of their seats. Every joke is landing and they are loving it.
Yep, Slater says the audience reactions felt like the ones Endgame stirred up, and that’s no small flex.
‘MORTAL KOMBAT 2’ test screenings have felt like ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ according to writer.
“They were cheering and jumping out of their seats. Every joke is landing and they are loving it.”
(Via: https://t.co/lFqdC2Qrg1) pic.twitter.com/ArJjc8DnDn
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) June 10, 2025
Slater isn’t just hyping the crowd energy. He’s promising the actual Mortal Kombat tournament this time around – no more waiting, no more teases. “We had to have this tournament in the movie,” he said, adding it’s all about striking the balance between brutal fights and emotional beats. The cast lineup – a power-packed roster including Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage, Kitana (Adeline Rudolph), Jade (Tati Gabrielle), Quan Chi, and Shao Kahn.
While characters like Liu Kang and Jax return, Slater’s keeping the sequel tight, avoiding bloated arcs and keeping the focus on fresh dynamics, shocking deaths, and crowd-pleasing fatalities. Backed by a stunt team straight out of Shang-Chi and John Wick, the fight choreography is bigger, bloodier, and way more inventive than last time.
Slater, a self-proclaimed Mortal Kombat arcade junkie, is going full fan mode behind the scenes. He’s bringing his Umbrella Academy and Moon Knight instincts to the script, blending over-the-top action with killer storytelling. And if everything lands the way test audiences say it does, Mortal Kombat 2 could punch way above its weight, and maybe even enter Endgame territory for real.
Why I think Mortal Kombat 2 might actually nail it this time
Mortal Kombat 2 might actually be the one we’ve all been waiting for. I wasn’t sold on the 2021 reboot – no tournament, too much setup, and a lead character (Cole Young) who doesn’t even exist in the games? Yeah, that left me cold.
But now, writer Jeremy Slater says the sequel finally delivers the goods. We’re talking full-on tournament, a stacked roster straight from the arcade days – Johnny Cage, Kitana, Shao Kahn – and test screenings where fans literally jumped out of their seats.
That’s the energy I’ve been craving. If it lands like it’s supposed to, I genuinely think Mortal Kombat 2 could be the best one yet.
Mortal Kombat 2 is set to release on October 24, 2025, in the United States.
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