“Mortal Kombat 2 Director: ‘We Aimed to Make Every Character’s Fate Unpredictable'”

Mortal Kombat is all about the thrill of death. The series is notorious for its brutal Fatalities, and the 2021 movie reboot showcased a few shocking character demises, some of which were reversed in this year’s sequel. While many fans anticipated certain outcomes, Mortal Kombat 2 still delivered unexpected twists, including one that left some feeling a bit remorseful.

In a chat with the director of Mortal Kombat 2, Simon McQuoid, ahead of the film’s Blu-ray launch, he shared that he and screenwriter Jeremy Slater aimed to keep viewers on their toes, even if they could predict a character’s demise from a distance.

[Warning: The following story contains spoilers for Mortal Kombat 2.]

“We approached the story development of Mortal Kombat 2 with the mindset that we wanted the audience to feel like anyone could meet their end at any moment,” McQuoid explained. “We didn’t want it to be predictable. It’s Mortal Kombat, after all; people have to die.”

McQuoid revealed that they had a detailed plan for who would face off against whom and who would ultimately fall. “It was like a tournament bracket,” he noted. “It was quite a process, but I always returned to the idea of keeping every fight unpredictable. It wasn’t just about who dies, but also the setting of the fight, the opponents, and where it fits in the film.”

One standout battle was between Liu Kang and Kung Lao, set against a backdrop inspired by the Blue Portal stage from the Mortal Kombat 2 game. McQuoid designed this fight to be visually striking and strategically placed at the film’s midpoint. However, before that, a shocking death aimed at fan service took center stage.

“There was this notion that anything could happen, and what better way to illustrate that than by having Cole Young (Lewis Tan) meet an early end,” McQuoid said. “It was a way to raise the stakes and keep the tension high, making viewers think, ‘Wow, anyone could go at any time.'”

Cole’s demise in Mortal Kombat 2 was brutal and seemingly definitive — or as definitive as anything can be in the Mortal Kombat universe. His fate felt almost inevitable, especially after fans expressed skepticism about introducing a brand-new character. I asked McQuoid about his discussions with Tan regarding Cole’s fate.

“Lewis was fantastic. He’s an incredibly skilled martial artist, just outstanding,” McQuoid said. “He’s like a high-performance race car. We had conversations about Cole’s death, and he was very understanding. He got the spirit of it all, and he was amazing. The entire cast recognized they were part of a larger narrative and what was needed to tell that story.”

McQuoid compared the cast of Mortal Kombat 2 to a sports team, explaining, “You might not get as much screen time this round, but don’t worry, we have plans for you — things I can’t really disclose.”

Whether this hints at Cole Young’s potential return in a third installment remains unclear. However, fans have been speculating about ways he could be resurrected, possibly as a more established character like Kenshi or Meat. In the Mortal Kombat universe, anything is possible, especially with a necromancer in the mix.

Mortal Kombat 2 is available for digital rental and purchase, with a 4K UHD and Blu-ray release set for July 28.

In a realm where death holds little weight, what truly became of Mortal Kombat’s chosen hero?