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 film series. 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.
| Mortal Kombat 2 | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Simon McQuoid |
| Written by | Jeremy Slater[1] |
| Based on | |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Stephen F. Windon |
| Edited by | Stuart Levy[2] |
| Music by | Benjamin Wallfisch |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $68 million[3] |
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
edit- Lewis Tan as Cole Young[4]
- Karl Urban as Johnny Cage[5]
- Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade[5]
- Mehcad Brooks as Jackson "Jax" Briggs[6]
- Tadanobu Asano as Raiden[7]
- Ludi Lin as Liu Kang[8]
- Chin Han as Shang Tsung[7]
- Joe Taslim as Bi-Han / Noob Saibot[9]
- Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion[9]
- Josh Lawson as Kano[5]
- Max Huang as Revenant Kung Lao[10]
- Tati Gabrielle as Jade[5]
- Adeline Rudolph as Kitana[11]
- Sophia Xu as Young Kitana
- Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn[12]
- Desmond Chiam as King Jerrod[12]
- Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel[12]
- Damon Herriman as Quan Chi[12]
- CJ Bloomfield as Baraka[13]
Production
editDevelopment
editFollowing 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.[14] Director Simon McQuoid stated that he is open to returning to direct a sequel if the story for it is good.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17]
In November 2021, producer Todd Garner hinted at a sequel in development on Twitter,[18] and in January 2022, the film was confirmed to be in development with Jeremy Slater writing the script.[19] 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.[20] That 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.[21] In June 2022, he further explained that the sequel would address both positive and negative fan reactions to the first film.[22] In July 2022, it was announced that the film had been greenlit by New Line and that McQuoid would return to direct the sequel.[23]
Casting
editIn May 2023, Tati Gabrielle was in final negotiations to play Jade in the film, with Karl Urban also in final talks to play Cage.[24] It was also reported that Jessica McNamee and Josh Lawson would return to play Sonya Blade and Kano respectively.[5] Later that month, Adeline Rudolph joined the cast as Kitana, with Gabrielle confirmed to be playing Jade.[11] 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.[12] Herriman previously voiced Kabal in the 2021 film.[12] Later that month, Max Huang confirmed he would return as Kung Lao.[10]
Filming
editPrincipal photography began on June 22, 2023, at Village Roadshow Studios in Gold Coast, Queensland, with Stephen F. Windon as the cinematographer.[25][26][27][28] Filming was suspended in July due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and resumed following the end of the strike in November 2023.[29][30] Filming officially wrapped in late January 2024.[31]
Release
editMortal Kombat 2 is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures on October 24, 2025.[32]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Mortal Kombat 2".
- ^ "Stuart Levy ACE Editor Reel" (PDF). The Gersh Agency. August 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "QLD takes on the Mortal Kombat 2 Movie". YouTube. TotalMK. May 29, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ Bentz, Adam (November 10, 2022). "Mortal Kombat 2 Cole Young Actor Teases Sequel's Bigger Scale". Screen Rant. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Kit, Borys (May 19, 2023). "Tati Gabrielle in Final Talks to Play Jade in Mortal Kombat 2 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ Burlingame, Russ (October 6, 2022). "Mortal Kombat 2 Star Mehcad Brooks Teases Big Return for Jax". ComicBook.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ a b McClelland, Timothy (May 22, 2023). "Mortal Kombat 2 Gets Major Filming Update As Production Settles On A Location". Screen Rant. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ Stedman, Alex (June 15, 2023). "Mortal Kombat 2 Rounds Out the Rest of Its Cast". IGN. Archived from the original on June 17, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Curran, Brad (May 21, 2023). "Mortal Kombat 2's Villain Return Sets Up 3 Big Characters In The Sequel". Screen Rant. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Duthie, Alex (June 29, 2023). "Kung Lao Returns! Max Huang Announces He Has Begun Filming 'Mortal Kombat 2'". CoveredGeekly. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Kit, Borys (May 25, 2023). "Adeline Rudolph to Play Kitana in New Line's 'Mortal Kombat 2' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f 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.
- ^ Duthie, Alex (June 29, 2023). "Baraka Actor Confirmed For 'Mortal Kombat 2' Movie, First Look Revealed". CoveredGeekly. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ Malkin, Marc (April 22, 2021). "'Mortal Kombat's' Sub-Zero Reveals He's Signed On For Four More Movies". Variety. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ Stone, Sam (April 19, 2021). "Mortal Kombat Director Didn't Allow Any Sequel Discussions On the Set". CBR. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
- ^ Moreau, Jordan (April 24, 2021). "'Mortal Kombat' Director Simon McQuoid on Sequel Plans, Major Deaths and Johnny Cage". Variety. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Chichizola, Corey (December 2, 2021). "Wait, Is Mortal Kombat's Sequel Coming Together After All?". Cinemablend. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Shirey, Paul (May 12, 2022). "Mortal Kombat 2 Writer Confirms Johnny Cage's Involvement". ScreenRant. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Weinstein, Molly Jae (May 10, 2022). "Mortal Kombat 2 Script Update Teases MCU Sensibilities". ScreenRant. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Thomas, Eric (June 23, 2022). "'Moon Knight' Head Writer Jeremy Slater on Comic Inspirations and Scrapped Ideas - Exclusive Interview". DiscussingFilm. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (July 20, 2022). "'Mortal Kombat' Sequel Moving Forward At New Line As Simon McQuoid Returns As Director". Deadline. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
- ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (May 4, 2023). "Karl Urban in Final Talks to Play Johnny Cage in 'Mortal Kombat 2' at New Line". TheWrap. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (May 23, 2023). "Mortal Kombat Sequel Returns to Australia, Changes State". Variety. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ Saksena, Sanchay (April 19, 2023). "Mortal Kombat 2 Shooting Date and Location Confirmed". IGN. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ Echebiri, Makuochi (June 22, 2023). "Fight! 'Mortal Kombat 2' Has Begun Filming, According to Producer". Collider. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Roberts, Jasmine (November 14, 2023). "'Mortal Kombat 2' Begins Filming". Collider. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Martyn, Ford [@martynfordofficial] (January 20, 2024). "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". Archived from the original on January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 14, 2024). "Warner Bros. Dates 'Mortal Kombat 2' & 'Companion' For 2025; Zach Cregger's 'Weapons' For 2026". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 15, 2024.