“Mortal Kombat 2”, the hotly anticipated follow-up to the cinematic reimagining of the classic video game series, is causing quite a stir. A test screening for the Karl Urban headliner, which is slated to sate the appetite of cinema-goers come Oct. 24, 2025, has left some early viewers positively dizzy… and not just from the robust fight scenes and liberal splattering of blood.

The word on the digital street posits Karl Urban embodying the role of Johnny Cage—a character as legendary for his quips as he is for his punches. For those not-in-the-know, Urban’s iteration of Cage is rumored to be throwing hands (and perhaps a few verbal jabs) at Baraka before these two big-hitters find common ground and unite against the overlord of the Outerworld, Shao Khan.

This sequel is rumored to be lit by the fiery revenge sought by Kitana, following the lethal Shakhan’s takeover of her father’s kingdom. And if social media leaks are any indication, her royal parents’ ends were not so noble—rather a murder and second life as an undead minion.

The early murmurs from the test screening suggest that “Mortal Kombat 2” is a bold cocktail, heavy on death, bountiful with epic fight sequences, and splashed liberally with buckets of gore. It appears this clash of the titans, while fronted by Johnny Cage, is truly a stage for Kitana to shine with her razor-sharp fan blades and her thirst for poetic justice. Though perhaps overshadowed, Karl Urban won some applause with his portrayal of Johnny Cage, though some viewed him as slightly long in the tooth for such a gig.

Along with the marquee name Urban, the echelons of “Mortal Kombat 2” are filled with known faces and fresh talents such as Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, and Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi. There are even murmurings of Tadanobu Asano reprising his role as Lord Raiden and Damon Herriman taking up the spectral reins of Quan Chi.

Simultaneously drawing from the rich lore of the long-standing game series and branching into uncharted territories, Simon McQuoid guides us into this battle-scarred world.

The early reactions seem divided—torn between the spectacle of the elaborate fight sequences and the slightly lackluster finale. Yet, critics and fans alike may need to hold their tongues and their tweets until the film breaks out onto the big screens next year. Well, hold onto your popcorn and your mortal realm—it looks like “Mortal Kombat 2” is coming in with a sharp, flying kick to the face.

By Daniel Burns, ATC.