It’s been a few months since we last saw anything from the upcoming Mortal Kombat II film. A continuation of the middling 2021 reboot, this sequel promises more of what fans of the series want most: more violence, more action, and more Johnny Cage. You can never have enough Ninja Mime in your life.
In all honesty, the second trailer doesn’t reveal too much we didn’t already know about the film. With a troubled production that coincided with the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, the film has been gestating for quite a long while, so we know most of the details. Raiden comes to find Johnny Cage so he can recruit him for Mortal Kombat. Cage is reluctant, but eventually goes and is determined to prove that his combat prowess isn’t just for show. While it seems most of the first film is getting thrown out, the ongoing battle between Scorpion and Bi-Han will continue as Noob Saibot is set to appear. Also, I guess new character Cole Young is mostly sidelined from the first film.
Where I think this sequel might struggle is with juggling the broader lore of Mortal Kombat. The games get away with it because for as silly as they can be, you can tune it all out and just fight your friends. In a film, the story is front and center, so there’s a chance the cosmic and supernatural elements might overpower the fight scenes. At the same time, action movie legends Hiroyuki Sanada, Joe Taslim, and Tadanobu Asano star in the film (as Scorpion, Noob Saibot, and Raiden respectively), so that’s a huge plus. I’m kind of 50/50 on this.
Mortal Kombat II theatrical release date
Mortal Kombat II will hit theaters on May 8th, 2026. If nothing else, Karl Urban’s turn as Johnny Cage already looks to be cemented as legendary.
Check out more Mortal Kombat content
Review – Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection for Nintendo Switch 2
New images of Mortal Kombat II show off Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage
Homelander is absolutely brutal in his debut Mortal Kombat 1 trailer
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
