TheMortal Kombatvideo game series began in October 1992, and as that decade and the ones that followed progressed, the franchise simply grew larger and larger. Following the live-action reboot in 2021, the franchise has returned to on-screen conversations, with the sequel,Mortal Kombat 2, one of the most anticipated movies of the 2025 calendar, with an October 24 premiere date. Ahead of the premiere,Deadlinereportsthe latest trailerfor theSimon McQuoidsequel has picked up 106.8M worldwide views in its first 24 hours after being dropped on Thursday, July 17. It’s an impressive number, especially given that it ranks asthe best ever for a red-band trailer.
The performance from the sequel’s red-band trailer continues a trend for the franchise that began with the 2021 reboot. TheLewis Tan-led film also impressed with its red-band trailer, following the previous McQuoid movie’s record-breaking success, which cleared 116 million views in its first week and outperformedLoganandDeadpool 2. When compared to other red-band trailers over the years, the 24-hour traffic forMortal Kombat 2stands tall withJames Gunn’sThe Suicide Squad(58.5M, dropout date July 04, 2025),Deadpool 2(52M, drop date Jun 27, 2025) and the 2021Mortal Kombatmovie (47M, Jun 29, 2025 release). The trailer forMortal Kombat 2was well-received with reactions ranging in the positive sphere of things. The introduction ofKarl Urban as Hollywood star-turned-hero Johnny Cage, set to battle the fighters from Outworld, seems to have worked a treat.
Old And New Fighters Join ‘Mortal Kombat 2’
Leading the charge against the warrior from Outworld isTan as Cole Young, an MMA fighter,a descendant of the legendary Scorpion, played byHiroyuki Sanada. Returning faces for the sequel includeJessica McNameeas Sonya Blade,Josh Lawson as Kano,Tadanobu Asanoas Lord Raiden,Mehcad Brooksas Jax,Ludi Lin as Liu Kang,Chin Hanas Shang Tsung,Joe Taslim as Bi-Han and Sub-Zero, Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion, andMax Huangas Kung Lao. The upcoming sequel sees the stakes raised with the introduction ofthe Mortal Kombat tournamentand the chance for Outworld to take control of Earthrealm. This meant the introduction of newcomers, includingOutworld’s ruler Shao Khan(Martyn Ford) andthe powerful necromancer and sorcerer Quan Chi(Damon Herriman). Others includeTati Gabrielle,Adeline Rudolph,Desmond Chiam, andAna Thu Nguyen.
There ismuch to be excited aboutas we draw ever closer to the premiere ofMortal Kombat 2, and potentially chief among them will center on how the sequel decides to portray the debut of Urban’s Johnny Cage.Urban has been discussing his Jean-Claude Van Damme-inspired herorecently, detailing what fans should expect from his character, saying:
“When we first discover Johnny, he is sort of lacking a lot of that quintessential spark that I think fans of the game will know. We start him at a very low point. His career is completely in the dumps. He has no self-confidence. He has neglected his martial arts training. And at his lowest point, he gets called up to, essentially, be a warrior that represents the Earthrealm and fight for the very future of humanity. And as I read the script, I found it just such a compelling, interesting, dynamic journey. We start this character in one place, and as an audience, we get to see him evolve and grow.”
Mortal Kombat IIkicks off the tournament on October 24. Check out the new trailer in the player above.
Mortal Kombat II
Source:Deadline
