Franchise co-creator Ed Boon reveals how sequel, Mortal Kombat 2.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Boon discussed how the movie will incorporate the iconic tournament between warriors from Earthrealm and Outworld, and the way the movie will symbolize this onscreen. He revealed that the score will be kept throughout the movie, and there will be a visual representation of this. Bonn went on to add that the tournament comes with real stakes that will shape the direction and conclusion of the movie, as well as the future of the franchise. Check out his comments below:

They keep score throughout the movie. There's a visual representation of who is winning.... It's not just a tournament for the sake of a tournament. There are huge consequences, so you really are keeping score. And there are a lot of twists in it that keep you on your toes.

What These Comments Mean For Mortal Kombat 2

The Tournament Will Be The Showpiece & The Movie Will Exemplify Its Importance

Karl Urban as Johnny holding a fighting stance in Mortal Kombat 2

The tournament is considered the most iconic part of the Mortal Kombat franchise, and the decision not to include it in the first movie would have been deliberate on McQuoid's part. Instead, the first film's storyline is set prior to the tournament taking place, and the showpiece event is set to make up the bulk of the second film. There are plenty of Mortal Kombat 2 tournament fights that many will want to see in the story, with a chance that the entire tournament could span more than just the second movie.

The stakes are very real within the story, because if Earth's warriors lose a 10th consecutive tournament against Outworld, Shao Khan will take over the world, so things are going to get very tense for the heroes.

As Boon reveals, there are important stakes to the tournament, and it seems that the movie's visual representation of who is winning will serve as an audience reminder of this. Quite how this will work onscreen is unclear, but there is scope for experimentation and creative license, and the filmmakers will have a clear vision for how they want things to unfold. The stakes are very real within the story, because if Earth's warriors lose a 10th consecutive tournament against Outworld, Shao Khan will take over the world, so things are going to get very tense for the heroes.

Our Take On Mortal Kombat 2's Tournament Spectacle

The Iconic Event Should Elevate The Movie Above Its Predecessor

Lewis Tan as Cole Young fighting Goro in Mortal Kombat

Though it was fun and action-packed, with some great choreography, there were some things about Mortal Kombat that made no sense, especially as the movie was trying to lay the groundwork for the tournament. Mortal Kombat 2 has a chance to thrive based on that groundwork. The tournament taking center stage, the brutal fights, high stakes, and iconic status of the event within the franchise should make for thrilling viewing, and might even mean that Mortal Kombat 2 enjoys greater box office success than its predecessor.

Source: EW

Mortal Kombat 2 poster
Mortal Kombat 2
R
Action
Martial Arts
Supernatural
Adventure
Release Date
October 24, 2025
Director
Simon McQuoid
  • Headshot Of Karl Urban In The Premiere Of Thor Ragnarok
    Johnny Cage
  • Headshot Of Adeline Rudolph
    Adeline Rudolph
    Kitana
  • Headshot Of Jessica McNamee
    Jessica McNamee
    Sonya Blade
  • Headshot Of Josh Lawson
    Josh Lawson
    Kano

The sequel to the Mortal Kombat 2021 film franchise reboot, Mortal Kombat 2, will follow the original cast and new faces as they prepare for the Mortal Kombat tournament. Cole Young and his allies will continue training and enlisting new warriors to prepare for the contest between Earthrealm and Outworld, which will determine the fate of humanity.

Writers
Jeremy Slater
Prequel(s)
Mortal Kombat
Franchise(s)
Mortal Kombat
Main Genre
Action
Characters By
Ed Boon, John Tobias
Studio(s)
Atomic Monster Productions, Broken Road Productions, New Line Cinema
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures