Mortal Kombat 2 (film) explained

Mortal Kombat 2
Director:Simon McQuoid
Screenplay:Jeremy Slater
Cinematography:Stephen F. Windon
Editing:Stuart Levy[1]
Music:Benjamin Wallfisch
Distributor:Warner Bros. Pictures
Country:United States
Language:English
Budget:$68 million[2]

Mortal Kombat 2 is an upcoming American martial arts fantasy film co-produced and directed by Simon McQuoid and written by Jeremy Slater, based on the video game series created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. The film serves as a sequel to Mortal Kombat (2021) and is the fourth film in the Mortal Kombat franchise. It stars returning cast members Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Chin Han, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada, with Karl Urban, Tati Gabrielle, Adeline Rudolph, Martyn Ford, Desmond Chiam, Ana Thu Nguyen, CJ. Bloomfield, and Damon Herriman joining the cast.

Following the release of Mortal Kombat in April 2021, producer Todd Garner, writer Greg Russo, and director McQuoid began conversations about the future of the franchise, including standalone films focused on Johnny Cage and Bi-Han, and a sequel to the 2021 film. By 2022, Warner Bros. Pictures had green-lit the sequel, with Slater set to pen the screenplay and McQuoid returning to direct the project. Filming began in June 2023 in Australia, was paused in mid-July due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, resumed in mid-November, and wrapped in late January 2024.

Mortal Kombat 2 is scheduled to be theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures on October 24, 2025.

Cast

Production

Development

Following the release of Mortal Kombat in April 2021, actor Joe Taslim revealed that he is contracted for four additional Mortal Kombat films, if Warner Bros. Pictures decides to create a franchise.[11]

Director Simon McQuoid stated that he is open to returning to direct a sequel if the story for it is good.[12] In an interview after the film's release, McQuoid said that the character Johnny Cage was not introduced in the film because Johnny Cage was a "giant personality" and would throw the film out of balance. He revealed that potential sequels could explore the material for characters like Cage and Kitana. He also expressed that he would like to include more female characters.[13]

Co-writer Greg Russo told Collider that he sees the reboot as a trilogy with the first film set before the tournament, the second film set during the tournament and the third film set post-tournament.[14]

In November 2021, producer Todd Garner hinted at a sequel in development on Twitter,[15] and in January 2022, the film was confirmed to be in development with Jeremy Slater writing the script.[16] In May 2022, Slater confirmed plans to include Johnny Cage in the film, after being set-up at the end of Mortal Kombat, though he noted his exact role in the story has not been determined.[17]

The same month, Slater mentioned the film would "embrace some of [the] weirdness" inherent to the Mortal Kombat franchise, and that he wanted the film to be "unpredictable" and defy fan expectations.[18] In June 2022, he further explained that the sequel would address both positive and negative fan reactions to the first film.[19] In July 2022, it was announced that the film had been greenlit by New Line and that McQuoid would return to direct the sequel.[20]

Casting

In May 2023, Tati Gabrielle was in final negotiations to play Jade in the film, with Karl Urban also in final talks to play Cage.[21] It was also reported that Jessica McNamee and Josh Lawson would return to play Sonya Blade and Kano respectively.[22] Later that month, Adeline Rudolph joined the cast as Kitana, with Gabrielle confirmed to be playing Jade.[23] In June 2023, Martyn Ford, Desmond Chiam, Ana Thu Nguyen, and Damon Herriman were cast as Shao Kahn, King Jerrod, Queen Sindel, and Quan Chi.[9] Herriman previously voiced Kabal in the 2021 film. Later that month, Max Huang confirmed he would return as Kung Lao.[8]

Filming

Principal photography began on June 22, 2023, at Village Roadshow Studios in Gold Coast, Queensland, with Stephen F. Windon as the cinematographer.[24] [25] [26] [27] Filming was suspended in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and resumed following the end of the strike in November 2023.[28] [29] Filming officially wrapped in late January 2024.[30]

Release

Mortal Kombat 2 is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures on October 24, 2025.[31]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: August 2022 . Stuart Levy ACE Editor Reel . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230625163946/https://gersh.com/production/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/LEVY-S.-RES.pdf . June 25, 2023 . June 25, 2023 . The Gersh Agency.
  2. Web site: QLD takes on the Mortal Kombat 2 Movie . YouTube . May 29, 2023 . TotalMK . 24 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Bentz . Adam . 2022-11-10 . Mortal Kombat 2 Cole Young Actor Teases Sequel's Bigger Scale . 2023-05-23 . Screen Rant.
  4. Web site: Burlingame . Russ . October 6, 2022 . Mortal Kombat 2 Star Mehcad Brooks Teases Big Return for Jax . 2023-05-23 . ComicBook.com.
  5. Web site: McClelland . Timothy . 2023-05-22 . Mortal Kombat 2 Gets Major Filming Update As Production Settles On A Location . 2023-05-23 . Screen Rant.
  6. Web site: Stedman . Alex . June 15, 2023 . Mortal Kombat 2 Rounds Out the Rest of Its Cast . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230617225813/https://www.ign.com/articles/mortal-kombat-2-rounds-out-the-rest-of-its-cast . June 17, 2023 . June 18, 2023 . IGN.
  7. Web site: Curran . Brad . 2023-05-21 . Mortal Kombat 2 Villain Return Sets Up 3 Big Characters In The Sequel . 2023-05-23 . Screen Rant.
  8. Web site: Duthie . Alex . 2023-06-29 . Kung Lao Returns! Max Huang Announces He Has Begun Filming 'Mortal Kombat 2' . 2023-06-30 . CoveredGeekly . en-US.
  9. Web site: Grobar . Matt . 2023-06-15 . 'Mortal Kombat 2': Martyn Ford, Desmond Chiam, Ana Thu Nguyen & Damon Herriman Join New Line Sequel . 2023-06-15 . Deadline . en-US.
  10. Web site: Duthie . Alex . 2023-06-29 . Baraka Actor Confirmed For 'Mortal Kombat 2' Movie, First Look Revealed . 2023-07-24 . CoveredGeekly . en-US.
  11. Web site: Malkin. Marc. 2021-04-22. 'Mortal Kombat's' Sub-Zero Reveals He's Signed On For Four More Movies. 2021-12-11. Variety. en-US.
  12. Web site: Stone. Sam. 2021-04-19. Mortal Kombat Director Didn't Allow Any Sequel Discussions On the Set. 2021-04-24. CBR.
  13. Web site: Moreau . Jordan . 2021-04-24 . 'Mortal Kombat' Director Simon McQuoid on Sequel Plans, Major Deaths and Johnny Cage . 2021-05-17 . Variety.
  14. Web site: Lawrence. Gregory. 2021-04-23. 'Mortal Kombat' Ending Tease, Trilogy Plans, and Alternate Easter Eggs Explained by Writer Greg Russo. 2021-04-24. Collider.
  15. Web site: Corey. Chichizola. 2021-12-02. Wait, Is Mortal Kombat's Sequel Coming Together After All?. 2021-12-11. Cinemablend. en.
  16. Web site: Fleming . Mike Jr . New Line Moving Forward With Mortal Kombat Sequel; Moon Knight Scribe Jeremy Slater Scripting . . . January 26, 2022.
  17. Web site: Shirey . Paul . 2022-05-12 . Mortal Kombat 2 Writer Confirms Johnny Cage's Involvement . 2024-07-11 . ScreenRant . en.
  18. Web site: Weinstein . Molly Jae . 2022-05-10 . Mortal Kombat 2 Script Update Teases MCU Sensibilities . 2024-07-11 . ScreenRant . en.
  19. Web site: Thomas . Eric . 2022-06-23 . 'Moon Knight' Head Writer Jeremy Slater on Comic Inspirations and Scrapped Ideas - Exclusive Interview . 2024-07-11 . DiscussingFilm . en-US.
  20. Web site: Kroll . Justin . 2022-07-20 . 'Mortal Kombat' Sequel Moving Forward At New Line As Simon McQuoid Returns As Director . 2022-07-20 . Deadline . en-US.
  21. Web site: Gonzalez . Umberto . 2023-05-04 . Karl Urban in Final Talks to Play Johnny Cage in 'Mortal Kombat 2' at New Line . 2023-05-04 . . en-US.
  22. Web site: Kit . Borys . 2023-05-19 . Tati Gabrielle in Final Talks to Play Jade in Mortal Kombat 2 (Exclusive) . 2023-05-19 . . en-US.
  23. Web site: Kit . Borys . 2023-05-25 . Adeline Rudolph to Play Kitana in New Line's 'Mortal Kombat 2' (Exclusive) . 2023-05-25 . . en-US.
  24. Web site: May 2023 . Stephen Windon Director of Photography Reel . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230523153641/https://admin.wp-a.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/WINDON-Stephen-DP.pdf . May 23, 2023 . May 23, 2023 . Worldwide Production Agency.
  25. Web site: Frater . Patrick . 2023-05-23 . Mortal Kombat Sequel Returns to Australia, Changes State . 2023-05-23 . Variety.
  26. Web site: Sanchay. Saksena . 2023-04-19 . Mortal Kombat 2 Shooting Date and Location Confirmed . 2023-05-23 . IGN.
  27. Web site: Echebiri . Makuochi . 2023-06-22 . Fight! 'Mortal Kombat 2' Has Begun Filming, According to Producer . 2023-06-23 . Collider . en.
  28. Web site: Whittock . Jesse . Australian Union Warns "Limited" Number Of "Offshore" Productions Will Stop During SAG Strike As Mortal Kombat 2 & Apples Never Fall Stand Down . . 14 July 2023 . July 14, 2023.
  29. Web site: Roberts . Jasmine . 2023-11-14 . 'Mortal Kombat 2' Begins Filming . 2024-07-11 . Collider . en.
  30. C2VUPW8SlO- . martynfordofficial . We turned up as strangers, and left as family ❤️ …. What a ride it's been, a tiny glimpse of into the wonderful wrap party for Mortal Kombat … more to follow @lewistanofficial @adelinerudo @cj.bloomfield @anathunguyen @thechinhan @thechinhan #family #mortalkombat . Ford . Martyn . Martyn Ford (bodybuilder) . January 20, 2024 . January 21, 2024 . https://archive.today/20240121013009/https://www.instagram.com/p/C2VUPW8SlO-/ . January 21, 2024 . live.
  31. Web site: D'Alessandro. Anthony. May 14, 2024. Warner Bros. Dates 'Mortal Kombat 2' & 'Companion' For 2025; Zach Cregger's 'Weapons' For 2026. May 15, 2024. Deadline Hollywood.

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