The 2024 edition of The Game Awards overflowed with world premieres and high-profile trailers, but among the many reveals, one stood out and genuinely took the audience by surprise: an early glimpse of the forthcoming *Street Fighter* feature film. This unexpected showcase didn’t merely serve as a preview of a long-awaited adaptation—it also reignited a decades-old rivalry that has been simmering between two of gaming’s most famous fighting franchises, *Street Fighter* and *Mortal Kombat*. What might have initially seemed like a lighthearted moment quickly evolved into a symbolic continuation of an inter-franchise feud that’s been part of popular culture since the 1990s.
Interestingly, while the *Street Fighter* film made its prominent debut at the ceremony, its genre competitor’s sequel, *Mortal Kombat II*, conspicuously skipped the event—even though the Warner Bros. production is scheduled to hit theaters this coming May. In contrast, the *Street Fighter* team took the stage with full fanfare, led by comedian Andrew Schulz, who portrays the iconic, if somewhat comical, character Dan Hibiki. Schulz seized the moment to deliver a pointed jab at the absence of their rivals, opening with humor that quickly turned into a cheeky taunt. He teased the audience by announcing that *Street Fighter* wasn’t the only major game franchise appreciative of fan support, suggesting there was another cast—clearly referencing *Mortal Kombat*—who had also flown in to celebrate with gamers. The crowd naturally erupted in applause, buzzing with excitement and anticipation that *Mortal Kombat II* stars such as Karl Urban and Joe Taslim might suddenly appear onstage. Their hopes, however, were quickly dashed when Schulz, revealing the ruse, joked that the *Mortal Kombat* cast “didn’t care about the fans” and were motivated purely by financial gain. With mock bravado, he declared, “We care about money *and* you—*Street Fighter forever!*,” effectively turning a playful jest into a viral moment.
The jab instantly rippled across social media, reigniting nostalgic memories of a long-standing cultural rivalry. Fans who had grown up watching the two franchises battle for arcade and console dominance eagerly dissected the exchange online, framing it as the latest escalation in a feud that traces back to the golden era of 1990s gaming. Over the years, that competition has periodically flared up whenever both series released new installments in close proximity, such as in 2023 when *Street Fighter 6* and *Mortal Kombat 1* launched within months of each other. Yet their respective trajectories have recently diverged—Capcom continues to expand *Street Fighter 6* with ongoing downloadable content well into its third post-launch year, while NetherRealm Studios wrapped up active development on *Mortal Kombat 1* in early 2025 to shift its focus toward its next major project.
Not everyone found Schulz’s onstage provocation amusing. Todd Garner, the producer behind *Mortal Kombat II*, responded diplomatically but firmly on social media, implying that he preferred to succeed without belittling competitors. He commented that, unlike Schulz’s characteristically brash persona, he does not “climb over others to get ahead.” Nonetheless, Garner was careful to maintain a professional tone, adding that he sincerely hopes both forthcoming films achieve enormous box office success. He further revealed that the marketing campaign for *Mortal Kombat II* would be intensifying soon, hinting that audiences could expect to see more promotional material beyond the initial teaser trailer, a brief featurette unveiled at New York Comic-Con, and exclusive footage shown only to attendees at that same panel.
Whether the next round of marketing will return fire with a playful jab at *Street Fighter* remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the renewed cinematic rivalry has captivated audiences, both new and old, who are eager to see which legendary franchise will ultimately triumph on the silver screen. *Mortal Kombat II* is slated for release on May 8, while *Street Fighter* will follow later in the year on October 16—ensuring that 2025 will once again see these two enduring combatants facing off, not in arcades or on consoles, but in theaters around the world.
Sourse: https://gizmodo.com/the-mortal-kombat-street-fighter-pissing-contest-now-includes-their-movies-2000699407
