Mortal Kombat II hits theaters October 24, and according to writer Jeremy Slater, fans are in for a ride on par with Avengers: Endgame.
Slater Says Test Screenings Felt Like Endgame
In a recent interview, Mortal Kombat II screenwriter Jeremy Slater described the experience of watching the film with fans at test screenings as one of the greatest moments of his life. According to Slater, Mortal Kombat fans were reacting to the sequel the same way Marvel fans reacted to Avengers: Endgame:
I am so excited for people to see the movie. It’s been done for a while. We’ve been waiting for the right release date and waiting for the right window. I have been to those test screenings, which are full of Mortal Kombat fans, and watching them react to it the way I reacted to Avengers: Endgame. They were cheering and jumping out of their seats. Every joke is landing and they are loving it. It’s one of the greatest moments of my life. That’s why you get into this business.
Slater, a self-proclaimed hardcore Mortal Kombat gamer since childhood, said being part of the movie — and getting to hang out on set with characters like Raiden, Kitana, and Baraka — was “surreal.”
The Tournament Is Finally Here
The sequel will deliver what the 2021 reboot teased: the actual Mortal Kombat tournament. Slater insisted this film had to include it:
“We can’t make people wait another movie and then be like, ‘Come back for the finale.’”
The stakes are high. If Earthrealm loses its tenth straight tournament, Outworld’s ruler Shao Kahn will invade and conquer Earth. Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon previously confirmed that the tournament’s progress is tracked visually throughout the movie, and that it’s not just background noise.
Bigger, Bloodier, and More Focused
Slater promised a tighter, more satisfying story structure, with action not just in the arena, but also between fights to avoid the usual “wait and fight” pacing of tournament films. The film balances the arcs of returning characters and newcomers with an emphasis on dynamic fights and emotional payoff.
“It’s so much funnier and bigger than the first movie. And the fights — I thought what I wrote was cool, but what the stunt team and director Simon McQuoid pulled off is next-level.”
Who’s In the Cast?
Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero, Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, Josh Lawson as Kano, Max Huang as Kung Lao, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel, and Damon Herriman as Quan Chi.
There are also surprise characters teased by the filmmakers.
The Look and Feel
Director Simon McQuoid said the sequel will explore “lots of different realms,” offering a varied visual style. The dynamic between Scorpion and Sub-Zero returns, and the plot deals with spirits and the NetherRealm, hinting at how some previously killed characters may return.
Game Tie-In
Fans of the Mortal Kombat 1 video game will also be getting skins from the Mortal Kombat II movie later this year.
Release Date
Mortal Kombat II opens in theaters and IMAX on October 24, 2025 directed by Simon McQuoid.
