If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.
Mortal Kombat 2 is "a purposeful swing into the crazy" that embraces the weirdness of the games
When Karl Urban joins Mortal Kombat 2, he'll have to deal with bigger, more ridiculous fights
Popverse's top stories
- Thor’s construction worker era is about to collide with a corporate monster in Mighty Thor #11
- MEMBERS ONLY: Popverse Playlist: The 3 things you need to check out in pop culture April 25 through May 1
- Mobile Suit Gundam fans have been missing the series' anti-war message for nearly 50 years
We’re just a few weeks away from the Mortal Kombat 2 release date, which promises bigger fights, bigger gore, and bigger action than the first movie did. The games were never shy about going over the top with everything about them, so it only makes sense that the films would do the same. However, it wasn’t until the sequel that director Simon McQuoid learned to accept the weird and wonderful world of Mortal Kombat 2 – and to see it as an asset.
During an interview with SFX Magazine, Simon McQuoid said that he approached the second Mortal Kombat movie with more acceptance of the weirding, twisted world of the games. “The thing we wanted to embrace was the outrageous nature of Mortal Kombat. I got better at seeing that as an advantage. Then we amplify things, so that we carve out our own unique space in the greater cinematic landscape.” We saw some early footage of Johnny Cage’s fight against Baraka, and it definitely felt like a movie embracing the weirdness.
That means framing the fights more like we see them in the video games, but it also means using the lore of games to bring back previously defeated characters. “Not everyone can bring back dead characters like this!” McQuoid says. “There are some really unique things about Mortal Kombat that we really wanted to push to the forefront. It’s a purposeful swing into the crazy.”
Mortal Kombat 2 comes out on May 8, 2026 and sees Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage join the battle to save Earthrealm from Shao Khan’s forces in an increasingly ridiculous world.
Want to know what's coming up next in pop culture? Check out Popverse's guides to:
Follow Popverse for upcoming event coverage and news
Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy
Let Popverse be your tour guide through the wilderness of pop culture
Sign in and let us help you find your new favorite thing.
Comments
Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.