Mortal Kombat 2
Directed bySimon McQuoid
Written byJeremy Slater
Based onMortal Kombat
by Ed Boon
John Tobias
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyStephen F. Windon
Edited byStuart Levy[1]
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Mortal Kombat 2 is an upcoming American martial arts fantasy film directed by Simon McQuoid and written by Jeremy Slater, based on the video game franchise Mortal Kombat created by John Tobias and Ed Boon. The film serves as the sequel to 2021's Mortal Kombat and as the fourth installment in the Mortal Kombat film series. It stars Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Chin Han, Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada, with series newcomers, Karl Urban, Tati Gabrielle and Adeline Rudolph joining the cast.

Following the release of Mortal Kombat in April 2021, producer Todd Garner, writer Greg Russo, and director Simon 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. Some cast members and crew expressed interest in returning to a sequel and in 2021, news outlets reported the studio was planning to develop other installments in the Mortal Kombat franchise. By 2022, Warner Bros. had green-lit the sequel, with Slater set to pen the screenplay and McQuoid returned to direct the project. Filming began in June 2023, in Australia.

Mortal Kombat 2 is scheduled to be theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures.

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.[12]

Director Simon McQuoid stated that he is open to returning to direct a sequel if the story for it is good.[13] 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.[14]

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.[15]

In November 2021, producer Todd Garner hinted at a sequel in development on Twitter,[16] and in January 2022, the film was confirmed to be in development with Jeremy Slater writing the script.[17] 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.[18]

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.[19] In June 2022, he further explained that the sequel would address both positive and negative fan reactions to the first film.[20] In July 2022, it was announced that the film had been greenlit by New Line and that McQuoid would return to direct the sequel.[21]

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.[22] It was also reported that Jessica McNamee and Josh Lawson would return to play Sonya Blade and Kano respectively.[3] Later that month, Adeline Rudolph joined the cast as Kitana, with Gabrielle confirmed to be playing Jade.[9] 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.[10] Herriman previously voiced Kabal in the 2021 film prior.[10] Later that same 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.[23][24][25][26] Filming was suspended in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and resumed following the end of the strike in November 2023.[27][28]

Release

Mortal Kombat 2 is scheduled to be theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures.

References

  1. ↑ "Stuart Levy ACE Editor Reel" (PDF). The Gersh Agency. August 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Mortal Kombat 2 Cole Young Actor Teases Sequel's Bigger Scale". Screen Rant. November 10, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tati Gabrielle in Final Talks to Play Jade in 'Mortal Kombat 2' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Mortal Kombat 2 Star Mehcad Brooks Teases Big Return for Jax". ComicBook.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Mortal Kombat 2 Gets Major Filming Update As Production Settles On A Location". Screen Rant. May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  6. ↑ Stedman, Alex (June 15, 2023). "Archived copy". IGN. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. 1 2 "Mortal Kombat 2's Villain Return Sets Up 3 Big Characters In The Sequel". Screen Rant. May 21, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Kung Lao Returns! Max Huang Announces He Has Begun Filming 'Mortal Kombat 2'". CoveredGeekly. June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Adeline Rudolph to Play Kitana in New Line's 'Mortal Kombat 2' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Grobar, Matt (June 15, 2023). "'Mortal Kombat 2': Martyn Ford, Desmond Chiam, Ana Thu Nguyen & Damon Herriman Join New Line Sequel". Deadline. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Baraka Actor Confirmed For 'Mortal Kombat 2' Movie, First Look Revealed". CoveredGeekly. June 29, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  12. ↑ Malkin, Marc (April 22, 2021). "'Mortal Kombat's' Sub-Zero Reveals He's Signed On For Four More Movies". Variety. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  13. ↑ Stone, Sam (April 19, 2021). "Mortal Kombat Director Didn't Allow Any Sequel Discussions On the Set". CBR. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  14. ↑ "'Mortal Kombat' Director Simon McQuoid on Sequel Plans, Major Deaths and Johnny Cage". Variety. April 24, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  15. ↑ Lawrence, Gregory (April 23, 2021). "'Mortal Kombat' Ending Tease, Trilogy Plans, and Alternate Easter Eggs Explained by Writer Greg Russo". Collider. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  16. ↑ Chichizola, Corey (December 2, 2021). "Wait, Is Mortal Kombat's Sequel Coming Together After All?". Cinemablend. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  17. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr (January 26, 2022). "New Line Moving Forward With Mortal Kombat Sequel; Moon Knight Scribe Jeremy Slater Scripting". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
  18. ↑ Mortal Kombat 2 Writer Confirms Johnny Cage's Involvement
  19. ↑ Mortal Kombat 2 Script Update Teases MCU Sensibilities
  20. ↑ 'Moon Knight' Head Writer Jeremy Slater on Comic Inspirations and Scrapped Ideas – Exclusive Interview
  21. ↑ Kroll, Justin (July 20, 2022). "'Mortal Kombat' Sequel Moving Forward At New Line As Simon McQuoid Returns As Director". Deadline. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Karl Urban in Final Talks to Play Johnny Cage in 'Mortal Kombat 2' at New Line". May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Stephen Windon Director of Photography Reel" (PDF). Worldwide Production Agency. May 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  24. ↑ Frater, Patrick (May 23, 2023). "Mortal Kombat Sequel Returns to Australia, Changes State". Variety. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  25. ↑ Saksena, Sanchay (April 19, 2023). "Mortal Kombat 2 Shooting Date and Location Confirmed". IGN. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Fight! 'Mortal Kombat 2' Has Begun Filming, According to Producer". Collider. June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  27. ↑ Whittock, Jesse (July 14, 2023). "Australian Union Warns "Limited" Number Of "Offshore" Productions Will Stop During SAG Strike As Mortal Kombat 2 & Apples Never Fall Stand Down". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  28. ↑ ‘Mortal Kombat 2’ Begins Filming With New Set Image From Karl Urban
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