Even though Cole Young didn’t become very popular after the release of the first film, Mortal Kombat 2 replacing him as the main character might not be what’s best for the franchise. The first film, which was released in 2021 and rebooted the movie franchise, followed Cole Young and other Earthrealm heroes, such as Sonya Blade and Jax Briggs, as they trained in Raiden’s temple to unlock their arcanas. Unfortunately, reviews for the film were quite underwhelming, partly because Cole Young was a brand-new character that has never appeared in any of the video games.

At the end of 2021’s Mortal Kombat, Cole Young set out to find Johnny Cage, another Earthrealm fighter. Since he is one of the most popular characters from the video games, fans are very excited to see Johnny Cage in the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2. In addition to Johnny Cage, several other new characters will be introduced in Mortal Kombat 2, such as Shao Kahn, Kitana, and Quan Chi. Because of all these new inclusions and the underwhelming response to the first film, Mortal Kombat 2 may replace Cole Young as the movie franchise’s main character.

Cole Young Will Be Back In Mortal Kombat 2, But He May Be Replaced As The Franchise Lead

Will Johnny Cage Be The Main Character In Mortal Kombat 2?

The first Mortal Kombat film sets Cole Young up as the main character in the movie franchise. In most Mortal Kombat games, this role actually belongs to Liu Kang. In the story of the games, Liu Kang is the one who defeats major villains like Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn. However, while Liu Kang appears in the first film and helps to train the other Earthrealm warriors, it doesn’t seem like he will have a very prominent role in the movie franchise.

Liu Kang’s reduced role in the first film creates problems for the franchise, especially since Cole Young wasn’t received well by many fans. However, instead of focusing on either of these two characters, it seems like Johnny Cage will be the main character in Mortal Kombat 2. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon revealed that Johnny Cage will serve as the audience’s lens in the sequel. This explains why Cole Young hasn’t been featured in any marketing for Mortal Kombat 2 so far.

Mortal Kombat 2 Replacing Cole Young Will Prove He’s Expendable

Cole Young Needs To Remain An Important Character

Since Johnny Cage will be learning about the Mortal Kombat tournament for the first time after being recruited to be an Earthrealm champion, framing him as the main character of the sequel actually kind of makes sense. Additionally, since acclaimed actor Karl Urban will play Johnny Cage in the sequel, it’s unlikely that any fans will complain about the character getting the most screen time. However, making Johnny Cage the new main character in Mortal Kombat 2 may hurt the franchise overall, since Cole Young has already been set up as the lead.

Whether you like him or not, it’s clear that the first film set Cole Young up to be the one to fight against major villains like Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn, essentially taking Liu Kang’s role from the video games. However, if Cole Young is immediately replaced in the sequel, this would show that he’s expendable and prove that the story of the movie franchise wasn’t really planned out that well. Therefore, it may be best for Cole Young to continue to act as the main character in Mortal Kombat 2.

Mortal Kombat 2 Moving On From Cole Young Will Make The First Movie Worse

Mortal Kombat 2 Should Try To Redeem The First Movie

Since the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie was already a major disappointment, one may ᴀssume that sidelining Cole Young is better for the franchise. However, it would only make the first movie far worse. If Cole Young doesn’t have a major role in the sequel, then fans will be forced to further question why the first movie included him at all. Was it just to subvert expectations? Therefore, instead of casting aside the character, it would be better for Mortal Kombat 2 to actually develop Cole Young into someone audiences want to watch and root for in the tournament.

Part of the reason fans didn’t like Cole Young in the first film is because he’s an underdeveloped character. In my opinion, Cole Young definitely has potential. After all, it can’t be forgotten that he is Scorpion’s ancestor, which could continue to impact the story of the movie franchise. Therefore, instead of making Johnny Cage the new main character, I am hoping that the writer of Mortal Kombat 2 stuck to the story of the first film and made an attempt to develop Cole Young into a more intriguing franchise lead.

Source: Entertainment Weekly