Street Fighter MovieS Game Awards Appearance Ignites Rivalry wiht Mortal Kombat
A pointed exchange at The Game Awards has reignited the decades-long rivalry between Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, as the upcoming Street Fighter film took the opportunity to playfully jab at the absence of the mortal Kombat II cast.
The tension arose during the gaming ceremony where a trailer for the new Street Fighter movie was unveiled. In contrast, the Mortal Kombat II film, slated for release in May, did not make an appearance. This disparity didn’t go unnoticed by Andrew Schulz, the comedian portraying Dan Hibiki in the Street Fighter adaptation.
Schulz directly addressed the audience,stating,”We’re not the only game that appreciates your patronage. There’s another game out there,they also flew from around the world to be here because they appreciate you. So give it up for the whole cast of Mortal Kombat II!” Despite the call for applause, the Mortal Kombat II cast remained absent. Schulz then delivered a pointed remark, claiming the cast didn’t attend because “they don’t care about you. They only care about money. We care about money AND you. Street Fighter FOREVER!”
The moment quickly spread across social media, reminding fans of the longstanding competition between the two iconic fighting game franchises.Both franchises saw releases in 2023 with Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1, but development on Mortal Kombat 1 ceased earlier in 2025 as Netherrealm Studios shifted focus to its next project. This shift in development, while unrelated to the Game Awards incident, added another layer to the perceived competitive dynamic.
However, not everyone appreciated the playful dig. Todd Garner, producer of Mortal Kombat II, responded on X (formerly Twitter) with a statement emphasizing a more collaborative spirit. He wrote that, unlike the Street Fighter film’s star, he “[doesn’t] climb over others to get ahead,” but expressed hope that both films would be “huge.” Garner’s response, while diplomatic, signaled a clear disagreement with Schulz’s approach.
Here is Garner’s post:
I don’t climb over others to get ahead. – Todd Garner (@T
Why did this happen? The rivalry was ignited by a perceived snub at The Game Awards, where the Street Fighter film was promoted while the Mortal Kombat II cast was absent. Who was involved? Andrew Schulz, representing Street Fighter, directly addressed the absence of the Mortal Kombat II cast, and Todd Garner, producer of Mortal Kombat II, responded. What occurred? Schulz made a pointed remark about the Mortal Kombat II cast’s alleged lack of concern for fans, prompting a response from Garner advocating for a more collaborative approach. How did it end? The exchange concluded with Garner’s diplomatic, yet firm, response on X, suggesting a disagreement in marketing strategies but a hope for mutual success.
Mortal Kombat II is scheduled to hit theaters on May 8, followed by Street Fighter on October 16.The playful rivalry, it seems, is already adding fuel to the anticipation for both films.
