Mortal Kombat Actor on Street Fighter Rivalry: Lewis Tan Reacts to Andrew Schulz’s Game Awards Jab

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The long-running Mortal Kombat vs. Street Fighter debate jumped from arcades and console wars to Hollywood promotion when Street Fighter cast member Andrew Schulz cracked a joke about Mortal Kombat II at The Game Awards 2025. That moment, which played directly into one of gaming’s most famous rivalries, later drew a response from Lewis Tan, who returns as Cole Young in Mortal Kombat II. His reaction gave fans something they have loved for decades: a little trash talk, a little hype, and a lot of competitive energy ahead of two major video game movies arriving in 2026.

What makes this story interesting is that it sits at the intersection of gaming culture, film marketing, and fandom. Mortal Kombat II is officially set for May 8, 2026, while Street Fighter is officially dated for October 16, 2026, so the films are not opening against each other on the same weekend. Even so, the cast comments, trailer chatter, and fan reactions have framed them as symbolic rivals in a larger battle over which adaptation better captures the spirit of its franchise.

Lewis Tan response to Andrew Schulz Mortal Kombat 2 joke

Lewis Tan did not ignore Andrew Schulz’s jab. When asked about the moment on The Brandon Davis Show, Tan answered bluntly and leaned into the competitive angle. According to reporting that quoted the interview, Tan said Schulz was “the last person who should be talking” on that stage, then followed that up with the more playful challenge, “Let’s go, bro,” while also saying he loves a good rivalry. That response mattered because it transformed what might have been a one-night awards-show joke into a wider conversation around both movies.

Tan’s reaction was not just an insult for the sake of drama. He also made it clear that he recognizes the strength of the Street Fighter property and even praised the tone of the trailer. That combination of competitive talk and open respect is part of why the exchange landed so well with fans. It felt more like classic fight promotion than an actual feud, which is exactly the space where both franchises tend to thrive.

Mortal kombat actor on street fighter rivalry: lewis tan reacts to andrew schulz’s game awards jab

What did Andrew Schulz say about Mortal Kombat 2 at The Game Awards 2025

At The Game Awards 2025, Andrew Schulz appeared on stage with members of the Street Fighter cast and used the moment to take a swipe at Mortal Kombat II. The joke, as later reported in multiple outlets, was that the Mortal Kombat II team did not come because they only cared about money, while the Street Fighter cast cared about both money and the fans. He then capped the bit with a “Street Fighter forever” flourish.

The line worked because it borrowed from a rivalry audiences already understood. Even viewers who had not followed every casting update could immediately grasp the implication: Street Fighter was presenting itself as the fan-embracing side, while Mortal Kombat II was being positioned as the absent rival. Whether fans found it funny or unnecessary, the jab succeeded in generating conversation.

Mortal Kombat vs Street Fighter rivalry explained for new fans

For new fans, the Mortal Kombat vs. Street Fighter rivalry is bigger than two movies or two casts. It comes from the early 1990s, when both series became defining forces in the fighting game boom. Street Fighter II helped establish the modern competitive fighting game format, while Mortal Kombat broke through with digitized actors, brutal finishing moves, and a more controversial edge. Since then, fans have compared them for decades on gameplay, presentation, tone, character design, and cultural impact.

The rivalry also persists because the franchises occupy different emotional spaces. Street Fighter is often associated with colorful world warriors, tournament structure, and a more comic-book style of action. Mortal Kombat is tied to darker fantasy, extreme violence, mythology, and a more fatalistic tone. They overlap enough to compete for attention, but they differ enough that people still passionately argue over which one does fighting-game storytelling better.

Lewis Tan “I love a good rivalry” quote and what it means

Lewis Tan’s “I love a good rivalry” line is important because it reframed the entire exchange. Instead of shutting down the comparison, he embraced it. That tells fans and the media that the Mortal Kombat II side understands the promotional value of this moment and is willing to play along, at least to a point.

It also signals confidence. Tan reportedly followed up by saying that “numbers don’t lie” and that Mortal Kombat fans “don’t play around.” In other words, he was suggesting that the franchise’s fanbase is large, loyal, and ready to show up. That is less a literal prediction of box office victory and more a statement about Mortal Kombat’s enduring audience strength across games, older films, and the 2021 reboot.

Mortal Kombat 2 vs Street Fighter movie release dates in 2026

The release calendar matters here because these films are rivals in conversation, not direct opening-weekend opponents. Warner Bros. lists Mortal Kombat II for May 8, 2026, while Legendary lists Street Fighter for October 16, 2026. That puts more than five months between them.

That separation means each movie gets room to market itself. Mortal Kombat II can own part of the spring and early summer genre conversation, while Street Fighter gets a fall corridor and a fresh runway after its April 2026 trailer debut. The “vs.” framing is therefore cultural and promotional rather than a literal same-day box office showdown.

Street Fighter movie cast list and roles (including Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki)

The currently reported Street Fighter cast is stacked with recognizable names. Andrew Koji plays Ryu, Noah Centineo plays Ken Masters, and Callina Liang plays Chun-Li. The wider ensemble includes Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i as Akuma, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, Cody Rhodes as Guile, Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki, Vidyut Jammwal as Dhalsim, Eric André as Don Sauvage, 50 Cent as Balrog, Jason Momoa as Blanka, Orville Peck as Vega, Olivier Richters as Zangief, Hirooki Goto as E. Honda, Rayna Vallandingham as Juli, Alexander Volkanovski as Joe, Kyle Mooney as Marvin, and Mel Jarnson as Cammy.

Schulz being cast as Dan Hibiki is especially notable because Dan is one of the funniest fits in the lineup. In the games, Dan is a joke character with swagger, ego, and limited credibility compared with the top fighters. Casting a comedian who then immediately started talking trash at an awards show feels fully in character for that role and likely helped the bit travel even further online.

Mortal Kombat 2 cast and returning characters (Cole Young and more)

Mortal Kombat II brings back several characters from the 2021 film while expanding the roster with fan favorites from the games. Lewis Tan returns as Cole Young, alongside returning performers including Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero/Bi-Han, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, and Tadanobu Asano as Raiden.

The sequel also adds major game characters to the film universe. Karl Urban joins as Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, and Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn. These additions are crucial because they move the movie closer to the larger mythic scale fans expect from the franchise and help answer one of the biggest complaints about the 2021 film: that viewers wanted more of the recognizable tournament-era roster.

Why fighting game fans compare Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat

Fans compare Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat because they are two of the most iconic fighting game series ever created. They represent different branches of the same genre history. When people talk about classic fighting games, these are always near the top of the list, alongside their sequels, spinoffs, and crossover dreams that never quite become reality on film.

There is also a style contrast that makes comparison inevitable. Street Fighter tends to emphasize tournament honor, rivalries among martial artists, and stylized global archetypes. Mortal Kombat leans harder into supernatural lore, realm warfare, fatalities, and apocalyptic stakes. Because both are fighting franchises but their identities are so different, fans naturally debate which version of the genre is more influential, more fun, or more cinematic.

Street Fighter movie trailer reactions from Mortal Kombat actors

One of the more interesting parts of this mini-feud is that Mortal Kombat talent did not universally dismiss the Street Fighter footage. Lewis Tan reportedly said the trailer looked awesome and that he liked the tone it was bringing. That matters because it suggests that even amid the public trash talk, there is real appreciation for what the other adaptation is trying to do.

More recently, reporting around the ongoing back-and-forth has also noted reactions from the Mortal Kombat side after the Street Fighter trailer rollout. The overall pattern has been teasing rather than hostility: the cast may fire promotional shots, but the comments still acknowledge the appeal of seeing these classic game universes adapted with bigger budgets and larger ensembles.

Is the Mortal Kombat 2 and Street Fighter “beef” real or just marketing

Everything publicly available suggests this “beef” is mostly playful promotion, not a serious feud. Schulz’s original jab happened during a major publicity stage. Tan’s answer was sharp, but he also praised the trailer and separated the joke from his actual feelings about other cast members he knows personally.

That makes the smartest reading fairly simple: this is marketing-friendly rivalry built on a real cultural history. The stars and filmmakers know that fans already understand the Mortal Kombat vs. Street Fighter shorthand. Leaning into it generates headlines, boosts trailer conversation, and keeps both films in the news cycle without requiring either side to manufacture a fake scandal.

Mortal Kombat 2 trailer breakdown and biggest reveals

The biggest reveal in the Mortal Kombat II marketing so far is Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage. That character was teased at the end of the 2021 film, so finally putting him front and center gives the sequel a more complete arcade-era identity. Coverage of the first trailer and first-look materials also highlighted the arrival of Kitana, Shao Kahn, and a broader sense that the real tournament stakes are now in play.

Another key takeaway is scale. Reports on the sequel describe the film as pushing beyond the setup-heavy structure of the first movie and moving deeper into the larger franchise world. That includes a bigger roster, more direct ties to fan-favorite game mythology, and a tone designed to balance spectacle, violence, and some Johnny Cage humor. For many fans, that is exactly what a second Mortal Kombat movie needed to do.

Street Fighter reboot plot rumors and what’s confirmed so far

What is confirmed so far is stronger than the rumor pool. Reported official synopsis material says the film is set in 1993 and follows Ryu and Ken as estranged fighters who are pulled back into combat when Chun-Li recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament. Beneath the tournament, there is said to be a deeper conspiracy that forces them to confront both each other and their pasts.

As for rumors, fans have speculated about how much the movie will remix game canon, how comedic Dan Hibiki and Don Sauvage will be, and how central M. Bison’s conspiracy will become. But the safest approach is to separate that speculation from what is actually confirmed. Right now, the clearest confirmed elements are the 1993 setting, the tournament setup, the Ryu-Ken-Chun-Li core, and the larger ensemble of recognizable Capcom characters.

Andrew Koji and Rayna Vallandingham roles in the Street Fighter movie

Andrew Koji plays Ryu, one of the central leads in the reboot. Based on the synopsis and first-footage reporting, Ryu is positioned not as a side figure but as one of the emotional anchors of the film, alongside Ken and Chun-Li. That is a strong fit for Koji, whose action background makes him one of the more natural martial-arts choices in the cast.

Rayna Vallandingham is playing Juli, which is a notable pull from the franchise’s wider character roster rather than only its most mainstream names. Her casting has drawn attention partly because Lewis Tan specifically referenced her as someone he knows, reinforcing the idea that the rivalry talk is selective and aimed more at promotional sparring than actual personal animosity.

How the Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter rivalry started in gaming culture

The rivalry started in the arcade era, when fighting games became one of the most visible battlegrounds in gaming. Street Fighter II helped define combo-driven, head-to-head competitive design, while Mortal Kombat exploded into public attention through digitized visuals, secret characters, and violent finishing moves that sparked real-world controversy and helped push wider conversations about game ratings.

That early contrast created lasting fan identities. Some players preferred Street Fighter’s technical discipline and competitive legacy; others preferred Mortal Kombat’s spectacle, lore, and attitude. Over time, those preferences became part of gaming culture itself, surviving across sequels, console generations, esports discussions, and now movie adaptation debates. The modern cast banter works because it taps directly into that history.

Which movie will win the box office: Mortal Kombat 2 or Street Fighter 2026

There is no verified box office result yet, so any answer here is prediction rather than fact. Mortal Kombat II may have an advantage in near-term franchise continuity because it follows a recent live-action reboot and is arriving first in May 2026. It also has the benefit of Johnny Cage finally entering the series, which gives the marketing a clean fan-service hook.

Street Fighter, however, has its own strengths. Its cast is unusually attention-grabbing, its trailer rollout has already generated strong mainstream coverage, and its October 2026 date gives it distance from Mortal Kombat II rather than forcing a direct clash. The better conclusion for now is that they may win in different ways: Mortal Kombat II could benefit from franchise loyalty and earlier release momentum, while Street Fighter could surprise with broader curiosity and a more novelty-driven ensemble appeal. Until actual box office data exists, anything stronger than that would be guesswork.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What did Lewis Tan say about Andrew Schulz and the Street Fighter rivalry?

Lewis Tan reportedly said Andrew Schulz was “the last person” who should be talking on that stage, then added “Let’s go, bro” and “I love a good rivalry,” showing that he was willing to lean into the competition while still treating it like fun.

2. What was Andrew Schulz’s Mortal Kombat 2 joke at The Game Awards 2025?

Schulz joked that the Mortal Kombat II team did not come because they only cared about money, while the Street Fighter side cared about money and the fans. He ended the bit by declaring “Street Fighter forever.”

3. Is Lewis Tan returning in Mortal Kombat 2?

Yes. Lewis Tan is returning as Cole Young in Mortal Kombat II.

4. Who plays Dan Hibiki in the Street Fighter movie?

Andrew Schulz is playing Dan Hibiki in the 2026 Street Fighter movie.

5. When does Mortal Kombat 2 come out?

According to Warner Bros., Mortal Kombat II is scheduled for May 8, 2026.

6. When does the Street Fighter movie come out?

According to Legendary, Street Fighter is scheduled for October 16, 2026.

7. Are Mortal Kombat 2 and Street Fighter releasing on the same day?

No. The movies are separated by more than five months, so they are rivals in branding and fan conversation, not direct opening-weekend competitors.

8. Who plays Ryu in the Street Fighter reboot?

Andrew Koji plays Ryu in the 2026 reboot.

9. Who are the biggest new Mortal Kombat 2 cast additions?

The most talked-about additions include Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, and Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn.

10. Is the Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter feud real?

Based on the public comments so far, it looks mostly like playful promotion built on a real decades-old gaming rivalry, rather than a serious personal conflict.

conclusion

The Lewis Tan and Andrew Schulz exchange worked because it felt instantly recognizable to anyone who knows fighting game history. Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter have been compared for decades, so the cast banter did not create a rivalry so much as reactivate one for a new film audience. Tan’s response gave Mortal Kombat II a confident voice, while Schulz’s joke fit his Dan Hibiki casting almost too perfectly.

In the bigger picture, this is good news for both movies. Mortal Kombat II arrives first on May 8, 2026, and Street Fighter follows on October 16, 2026, giving each film room to build its own momentum. Whether one outperforms the other commercially remains to be seen, but the rivalry itself is already doing what great fighting-game promotion always does: making fans pick sides, compare rosters, analyze trailers, and get excited for the next round.