Fans Divided Over Shocking Death in Mortal Kombat 2

Mortal Kombat II is hitting theaters now, and I have to admit, I’ve forgotten quite a bit about the details of its 2021 reboot. That’s probably on me for not rewatching it beforehand, but with the film’s release pushed back by six months, my memories of watching the first movie during quarantine have been replaced by other distractions. However, Mortal Kombat II did remind me that one character was a significant part of the first film, making it surprising that the sequel sidelines them entirely.

I’m referring to Cole Young, the original character introduced in the first movie who served as the main protagonist. He’s a former MMA fighter who gets pulled into the chaos of the Mortal Kombat tournament and discovers he’s a descendant of Scorpion, one of the franchise’s most iconic figures. Cole was a bit of a “divisive” character when the first film dropped, and as the focal point of the story, fans eager to see their favorite Mortal Kombat characters on screen had to accept that Cole was always going to be in the spotlight.

In Mortal Kombat II, seemingly responding to fan feedback about the original character stealing the show, Cole doesn’t just take a backseat; he’s taken off the board early and brutally. As the tournament kicks off, Cole’s first (and only) fight is against the villain Shao Kahn, who has already been established as a serious threat through previous violent encounters. To really drive home his menace, Shao Kahn defeats Cole, smashing his hammer down on him and disposing of his body in acid.

This fatality fits the Mortal Kombat theme, but after that, Cole is largely forgotten for the remainder of the film. When his teammates hear about his defeat, their reaction is minimal, and they quickly move on. While I appreciate the campy, over-the-top nature of Mortal Kombat II’s approach to his exit, I can’t help but wonder if this is part of a bigger plan or just a way to appease critics who questioned Cole’s inclusion in the first place. Whether you loved or hated it, the 2021 film was centered around Cole, and if this isn’t setting up something significant for him in a future installment, it feels like a cheap way to placate the audience.

Ultimately, I’m here for the epic fight scenes, so I’m not too bothered by it. However, the hardcore Mortal Kombat fans seem to have mixed feelings. Some are celebrating his minimal screen time in the sequel, while others feel this decision was a shortcut to win over diehard fans rather than genuinely improving the character.

“I get that he was a character that not everyone liked in the first movie and he was one of the only throwaway heroes for the sake of the plot and making Shao Kahn look like the big bad villain,” one fan expressed. “But this is a SEQUEL MOVIE… TO HIS STORY!!!! I WAS HALF EXPECTING A MID-CREDITS SCENE OF COLE’S FAMILY WONDERING WHERE HE WAS AND BEING SAD TO DRIVE HOME THAT HIS CHARACTER MEANT NOTHING. BUT HEY, WE GET JOHNNY CAGE TALKING TO ORC CHILDREN ABOUT HOW HE SAVED THE WORLD. AND DOESN’T EVEN TALK ABOUT THOSE THAT DIED ALONG THE WAY.”

Some of the mixed reactions also stem from sympathy for Cole’s actor, Lewis Tan, who is a fan of the series and likely joined the film under the impression he’d be a main character.

I kind of feel bad for Lewis Tan, though… I wish he played an actual character instead of being stuck with an OC that everybody hates.

Whatever Tan is feeling behind the scenes, he’s putting on a brave face publicly, even making appearances at screenings. In a recent interview, he mentioned that there were “plans” for Cole and that fans would be “pleasantly surprised” by the character’s future direction. It’s unclear if this refers to his death and the character’s unpopularity or if the Mortal Kombat movies have more in store for him down the line.

Mortal Kombat II wraps up with the surviving cast capturing Quan Chi to help revive their fallen friends, so there’s a chance Cole could return in the planned third film, perhaps as the new Scorpion? Hiroyuki Sanada reprises his role as the original Scorpion in a supporting capacity, but he and Cole never interact in this film. So, now that they’re both out of the picture, there might be an opportunity for the movies to explore that connection in the afterlife.