Mortal Kombat fans, rejoice! After almost 25 years, a new live-action Mortal Kombat movie is coming thanks to Warner Bros. and HBO Max. For anyone craving an R-rated version of the Midway Games martial arts classic, 2021 is your year. With the bloody deaths and heart-pounding action to come – and a few “come here!” and “finish it!” Setbacks for good measure – this is the adjustment you’ve been waiting for.
The new movie will premier next month on HBO Max, where you can stream it from the comfort of your home.
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If this piques your interest, read on for a roundup of everything we know about Mortal Kombat before it hits HBO Max.
What is Mortal Kombat about?
Mortal Kombat follows Cole Young, a gifted MMA fighter who is unaware of his epic legacy. He suddenly has to face his fate when Emperor Shang Tsung, leader of a parallel universe called Outworld, sends his best warrior, Sub-Zero, to hunt him down. Cole must team up with other fighters to protect himself and learn the meaning of a mysterious dragon mark he was born with. Cole trains under Lord Raiden, an elder god and protector of Earthrealm, while seeking refuge with others who bear the mark.
Under Lord Raiden, Cole will work to unlock his Arcana, the mystical power buried deep within him. This power will enable him to fight back against the fighters of the outside world and protect Earthrealm from their impending invasion.
Mortal Kombat: The Game Behind the Movie
Even if you’re not a fan yet, there’s a good chance you’re at least familiar with Mortal Kombat.
The franchise began in 1992 as a video game developed by Midway Games. The creators originally developed it as a vehicle for action star Jean-Claude Van Damme. You eventually went on without Van Damme and made it the fantasy fighting game you know and love. (Keen-eyed watchers may have spotted similarities between fan-favorite character, Johnny Cage, and Van Damme.)
The premise is simple and suitable for the fighting game. In a multiverse made up of different “realms”, fighters can conquer or protect realms through one-on-one fights – the title Mortal Kombat. During several sequels, spin-offs and adaptations of comics and card games, the basic premise of the battle of the champions remained. It has built a tremendous following. The games continue to go strong, with Mortal Kombat 11 in 2019 and a 12th installment in 2023.
Mortal Kombat gets its R rating and ties it into its roots as a video game. The original Mortal Kombat game was controversial. The violence was shocking to many parents and even politicians. US Senators Joe Lieberman and Herb Kohl pushed for the game to be censored, and the ensuing debate led to the formation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board, which is responsible for rating video games, similar to the MPAA’s movie rating system.
This isn’t the first Mortal Kombat movie
In 1995, the first film adaptation of Mortal Kombat starred Robin Shou, Linden Ashby, Bridgette Wilson and Christopher Lambert. The film was a hit. A sequel in 1997 and two spin-off TV series: Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm and Mortal Kombat: Conquest followed. The film soundtrack was also remarkable. It made it into the 2011 Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition as “the most successful spin-off soundtrack album for video games” and was the first EDM album to achieve platinum certification in the US and sell over 1 million copies.
While a third Mortal Kombat feature film was in the works after Mortal Kombat: Annihilation from 1997, the sequel’s declining returns did not justify a trilogy. The new project is a fresh start. It starts over and includes elements from various new entries in the franchise over the years.
Where and when can you watch Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat will be released on HBO Max on April 16th. It can be streamed by anyone with a standard subscription to the service.
Mortal Kombat will hit theaters, including IMAX, on the same day as the streaming release on HBO Max.
Mortal Kombat fans with COVID-friendly access also have the option to see it in cinemas. Mortal Kombat is a title included in Warner Bros.’s hybrid release model for 2021. Last December, after a year of low box office revenues and endless rescheduling due to COVID-19, Warner Bros. rescheduled its release schedule and eliminated the exclusive theatrical window. Every movie that hits theaters also premieres on HBO Max that same day. It’s a strategy the studio first tried out with Wonder Woman in 1984 that debuted on the Streamer alongside its box office premiere this Christmas.
The move has disheveled some feathers, especially in the movie industry. Exclusive theater windows ensure a certain degree of prestige and make the theater experience something special. That has value for producers and traders who like the status quo. Legendary Entertainment in particular didn’t take the announcement well, as two of Warner’s biggest titles were included in the new hybrid model: Godzilla Vs. Kong and Dune.
It remains to be seen whether this will change the post-COVID film publishing landscape. Mortal Kombat has a test case for the HBO Max release strategy on the same day.
Who will you see in Mortal Kombat?
As with the 1995 film version of Mortal Kombat, many of your favorite video game characters appear in the sequel. From the trailer, however, this version seems a little closer to its video game origins. Costumes and casting give a familiar feel to the whole affair.
The list of famous characters includes Sonya Blade, Sub-Zero, Scorpio, Mileena, Kung Lao, Kabal, Cole Young, Nitara, Liu Kang, Jax, Shang Tsung, Raiden, Kano and Goro. In addition to some aspiring, fresh faces, a few heavy hitters take on the roles:
- Sonya Blade: Jessica McNamee
- Bi-Han / Sub-Zero: Joe Taslim
- Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpio: Hiroyuki Sanada
- Mileena: Sisi Stringer
- Kung Lao: Max Huang
- Cabal: Daniel Nelson
- Nitara: Elissa Cadwell
- Liu Kang: Ludi Lin
- Jax: Mehcad Brooks
- Shang Tsung: Chin Han
- Raiden: Tadanobu Asano
- Kano: Josh Lawson
Recognition: Frederick Blichert / Android Authority
Other cast members are Lewis Tan, who plays the new character Cole Young. He is joined by Matilda Kimber as Emily Young and Laura Brent as Alison Young, Cole’s family.
Behind the camera
Mortal Kombat’s live action reboot has long been in the works. Other versions have made it to different stages of development over the years. Kevin Tancharoen would have made a feature film after sparking interest with his web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy, but after years of delay, he left the company in 2013 to pursue other projects. Then Saw, The Conjuring and Aquaman director James Wan came on board as producers in 2015. With Wan came screenwriter Greg Russo and Australian director Simon McQuoid. McQuoid makes his directorial debut with Mortal Kombat. New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. produced the film.
We know that so far about the new Mortal Kombat. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait any longer to find out more when it debuts next month.
Don’t forget to sign up for HBO Max if you haven’t already. Once you’re signed in, you’ll be able to watch Mortal Kombat when it launches on April 16th.
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