"Despite the mixed reception to 2021's R-rated Mortal Kombat reboot, there's been some cautious optimism surrounding its sequel, Mortal Kombat II. The upcoming film is set to right one of Mortal Kombat's biggest missteps: the exclusion of fan favorite Johnny Cage in favor of an original lead. The Boys' Karl Urban will bring Cage to life with gravitas and steely humor, making Mortal Kombat II one of the year's most anticipated releases."
"Abruptly pulling Mortal Kombat II from the slate implies that Warner doesn't have much faith in the franchise, but the shift might actually be a power move by the studio. There's not much competition in late October apart from the odd awards contender, but Mortal Kombat II has an even bigger opportunity to dominate the box office next spring. Final Destination: Bloodlines, another R-rated Warner picture, grossed higher than any film in May this year."
"Warner's New Line Cinema has already given the green light to Mortal Kombat III, with Jeremy Slater - who wrote and produced Mortal Kombat II - in talks to return. Per , the demand for Mortal Kombat II might have influenced both its new release date and its upcoming threequel. Its first red-band trailer drew far more views in just 24 hours than anticipated, setting a new record for R-rated teasers and signalling genuine excitement for the film."
Mortal Kombat II will introduce Johnny Cage, portrayed by Karl Urban, correcting the previous reboot's omission of that fan-favorite character. Warner Bros. pushed the film from October 2025 to May 2026, a move that might position the R-rated title to dominate a less crowded spring box office. Final Destination: Bloodlines performed strongly in May, suggesting May can support successful R-rated releases. New Line Cinema has already greenlit Mortal Kombat III, with writer-producer Jeremy Slater in talks to return. The film's first red-band trailer set a record for R-rated teasers by drawing far more views than expected in 24 hours. The 2021 Mortal Kombat grossed $84 million.
Read at Inverse
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