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Get ready to hear those iconic two words again – “Finish Him!” The brutal fighting franchise that had us all button-mashing in arcades back in the day is gearing up for another bloody tournament, and honestly, we couldn’t be more excited.

Mortal Kombat 2 is finally happening, and after the mixed reception of the 2021 reboot, this sequel might just be the redemption story we’ve all been waiting for. Warner Bros. Pictures has greenlit what promises to be an absolute spectacle, complete with the long-awaited introduction of Johnny Cage.

With test screenings reportedly getting fans as hyped as they were for Avengers: Endgame – and that’s saying something – this sequel could be the film that actually nails the video game adaptation formula.

The tournament begins with Karl Urban as Johnny Cage ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Jessica McNamee, and Karl Urban in Mortal Kombat 2 (2025) | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Let’s...

One of the deadliest characters in the Mortal Kombat universe has just been immortalized with a new collectible. Iron Studios has officially released the first images of a new Kung Lao figure from Mortal Kombat, showing the deadly warrior standing atop a pool of skulls, the remains of anyone foolish enough to face him. The figure is based on Kung Lao’s appearance in the Mortal Kombat video game franchise instead of Max Huang’s portrayal of the character in the 2021 film, a role that he will reprise in the sequel coming to theaters later this year. The new Kung Lao figure retails for $199.99 and is now available for pre-order from IronStudios.com. It will be shipped out worldwide later this year between October and December.

This isn’t the first time this year that Iron Studios has given a new figure to a character from the Mortal Kombat franchise.

In response to the Covid pandemic, Warner Bros. gave all of their 2021 films day-and-date theatrical and Max streaming releases – and one movie that really benefited from the streaming side of that strategy was the video game adaptation Mortal Kombat, released in April of 2021. As reported by Business Insider, Mortal Kombat had the best weekend of any of the Warner Bros. releases on Max, with a total of 3.8 million viewers during its first few days. In addition to that, the film, which cost $55 million to make, earned $83.6 million at the global box office. So, within months of its release, Warner Bros. was already developing sequels and spinoffs. The first follow-up will be making its way into theatres sometime in 2025 – and here’s everything we know about Mortal Kombat 2.

Director

Commercial director Simon McQuoid made his feature directorial debut with the 2021 Mortal Kombat, following in the footsteps of Paul W.S. Anderson,...

Mortal Kombatstar Lewis Tan doesn't hold back when it comes to AI generated fan films.

In a February 11 X/Twitter post, Tan responded to an AI generated "hype trailer" published by user GenMagnetic. an responded to the trailer, which is replete with inconsistent characters and oddly fluid cinematics, with a simple "This disgusts me."

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This disgusts me— Lewis Tan (@TheLewisTan) February 11, 2025

Tan made his debut as Cole Young in 2021's Mortal Kombat from director Simon McQuoid and writers Greg Russo and Dave Callaham. An original character created for the film, Cole is one of the Earthrealm champions as decided by a strange, immediately recognizable birthmark. Tan starred alongside an ensemble cast including Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang,...

The highly-anticipated sequel to last year’s hit “Mortal Kombat” reboot is primed to take the iconic fighting franchise to a whole new level, according to recent reveals from cast and crew. Speaking to reporters at Comic-Con 2024, star Lewis Tan teased that “Mortal Kombat 2” will deliver the long-awaited tournament format that gamers have adored since the franchise’s 1992 debut.

In the games, the tournament serves as a battle royale where champions from Earthrealm and Outworld duke it out fighter by fighter. Curiously absent from the 2021 film, fans lamented the missed opportunity to see signature battles play out on screen. However, Tan promises the sequel will rectify this oversight in spectacularly gory fashion.

“For the sequel, I can promise many more fights, much longer fights,” Tan revealed. He explained viewers can expect an authentic tournament structure that allows combatants like himself to literally battle it out in bracket-style competition. “It’s very gory,...

Lewis Tan promises Mortal Kombat 2 will be a "very gory, very bloody" follow-up and hypes the tournament to come. The absence of the tournament in the 2021 movie led to some criticism from fans of the games, but the decision to include it in the sequel is a promising sign of the creative team listening to fan feedback. Mortal Kombat 2's tournament can also lay the groundwork for further sequels, namely Shao Kahn's multiple attempts to wage war on Earthrealm after growing tired of losing the tournaments.

Following its notable absence in the 2021 reboot movie, Mortal Kombat 2's tournament gets a promising tease from star Lewis Tan. Plot details remain under wraps for the follow-up to the hit video game adaptation, though is expected to continue its storyline of Cole Young and other powerful fighters protecting Earthrealm from the forces of Outworld, including new faces Jade, Kitana, Shao Kahn,...

It has begun. We have our first look at Mortal Kombat 2, straight from one of the creators. According to a report by ComicBook, Ed Boon has provided fans with the first look at the upcoming sequel to the hit 2021 live-action adaptation of the classic video game. The image, shared to Boon's social media, provides a partial glimpse of Princess Kitana, one of the fan-favorite core characters from the game, who makes her debut in the sequel.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) Boon claimed to have taken the picture from producer Todd Garner's phone, during a screening of the rough cut of the film. Boon also jokingly referenced the scores of video game leaks he has had to endure over the years, saying "I can leak stuff too."

I recently saw a (unfinished cut) screening of the Mortal Kombat 2 movie. During the screening I broke into @Todd_Garner 's phone,...

The Mortal Kombat video game tells players to "test your might," but the new Mortal Kombat movie may test fans' patience. Mortal Kombat 2, the sequel to the 2021 live-action film, will finally introduce the fan-favorite character of Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban. However, cast member Lewis Tan says the character may be "different from what people are expecting," according to a report by Screen Rant. Tan, who played Cole Young in the first film, promised that Urban's spin on Johnny Cage is "really special."

Tan was at the San Diego Comic-Con, promoting his appearance as Shatterstar in Marvel's Deadpool & Wolverine. He also provided an update on Mortal Kombat 2, and the anticipation for the appearance of Johnny Cage, one of the most popular characters in the game. Casting Urban in the role was welcomed by most fans, who felt he could perfectly portray the cocky actor-turned-martial arts warrior.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire officially becomes the highest grossing film in Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse line of films after astonishing worldwide box office return.

Per Deadline, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which received its wide release on March 29, has surpassed $570 million at the worldwide box office. As of now, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire stands as the highest-grossing MonsterVerse film, beating out previous record holder Kong Skull Island by just shy of $3 million. Godzilla x Kong's smashing box office success comes from a combined gross of $196.3 million in domestic ticket sales and $373.7 million coming from foreign markets.

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Exclusive: In one of the first big spec sales following the resolution of the WGA strike, Ben Ketai’s script Undying has sold to Netflix for development under its first-look feature deal with Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps.

Deadline hears that the deal was for mid-six against seven figures. 21 Laps brought the project in to Netflix, and Levy, Dan Cohen, and Dan Levine are set to produce for the company, with Moera Ainai overseeing. Ketai will serve as executive producer.

Netflix declined comment.

Described as an erotic thriller with a supernatural twist, Undying follows a woman, suffocated by motherhood, who has an affair with a man she hasn’t seen since high school… only to discover a terrifying secret.

Prior to the sale, Ketai had most recently wrote and directed River Wild, a reimagining of Uni’s same-name 1994 thriller. Starring Leighton Meester, Taran Killam and Adam Brody, the film spent a...

Netflix's track record with producing live-action anime is mixed, at best. The streamer's "One Piece" series has already been renewed, but the live-action "Cowboy Bebop" was a swiftly-canceled mess.

Their most infamous project, however, is probably "Death Note." This story, first told by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata in a mega-popular manga, focuses on the Japanese teenager Light Yagami. One day, a notebook falls from the sky into Light's lap. Dropped by a Shinigami (a Japanese death god) named Ryuk, the "death note" will kill anyone whose name is written on its pages. Light decides to purge the world of evil by using the Death Note to kill high-profile criminals, becoming a serial killer himself in the process. Dubbed "Kira" (a Japanese pronunciation of "Killer"), he gains allies (deludedly loyal pop idol Misa Amane) and adversaries (eccentric master detective L).

This 2017 film, directed by Adam Wingard, transposed this story to Seattle.

Sweet Tooth actor Samoa Joe assures that the Twisted Metal show will feature the iconic tournament from the PlayStation franchise, building out the broader mythology in a plausible post-apocalyptic world. The show's focus on vehicular combat and the tournament distinguishes it from the mistake made by the Mortal Kombat reboot, which disappointed fans by not including its actual tournament. Twisted Metal's inclusion of the tournament is crucial to satisfying fans and staying true to the game franchise, where the competition and vehicular combat are central elements. The show may also delve into the universe's mythology more deeply.

While the marketing thus far has focused on its star-studded roster, Sweet Tooth actor Samoa Joe assures the Twisted Metal show will feature the games' iconic tournament. Based on the PlayStation franchise of the same name, the show will be set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland and focus on an amnesiac milkman-turned-courier who...

Karl Urban is adding another notch to his already-stuffed pop culture belt as he joins the cast of Mortal Kombat 2 in the role of the iconic fighter Johnny Cage.

Revealed on Twitter by franchise co-creator Ed Boon, Urban is joining the sequel in a part that was teased in the final moments of the original film. While details on his character are still largely unknown, the image shared, which includes a reference to both The Shining and one of Johnny Cage's Fatalities in Mortal Kombat X, may reveal the character's costume. Urban is sporting a pair of large shades, an accessory that has become synonymous with Johnny Cage and his cocky attitude.

Related: Mortal Kombat Nailed the Classic Fatalities - But Left One Out

Heeeeeeeeeere’s Johhny !@KarlUrban #MK2movie pic.twitter.com/mrfnPMbVgQ — Ed Boon down under...

Mortal Kombat 2’s tournament result is easy to predict, especially if Mortal Kombat 3 is being considered. Mortal Kombat (2021) reignited the Mortal Kombat movie franchise 24 years after the Mortal Kombat: Annihilation disaster. The Mortal Kombat reboot was arguably more faithful to the games than Mortal Kombat (1995) and Annihilation, although the 2021 movie did make some significant changes to the source material. The exclusion of Jonny Cage from Raiden’s first lineup of champions; the addition of the original character Cole Young, and the absence of an actual Mortal Kombat tournament are some examples.

Mortal Kombat 2 is already fixing some of the biggest Mortal Kombat (2021) criticism. For example, the list of new Mortal Kombat 2 characters includes Johnny Cage, who will be playing Karl Urban in the upcoming Mortal Kombat sequel. With many heroes and villains joining Mortal Kombat 2, the sequel has all the tools to deliver the tournament the first movie skipped.

Mortal Kombat 2 producer Todd Garner announces shooting with a photo of the cast on social media.

In a June 24 Twitter post, Garner showcased the upcoming film's new and returning cast members, all seated together in a bright and friendly atmosphere. Among those spotted are Jessica McNamee, who returns to the role of Sonya Blade, and newcomer Tati Gabrielle, who will be tackling the role of Jade in the film.

Related: A Classic Mortal Kombat Story Revealed That a Shocking Villain Nearly Became a Hero

New friends and old friends… pic.twitter.com/S4al4gRZ8k — Todd Garner (@Todd_Garner) June 24, 2023

McNamee and Gabrielle are joined in the photo by the latter's fellow Chilling Adventures of Sabrina co-star Adeline Rudolph, who will be stepping into the role of Princess Kitana for the latest entry into New Line Cinema's Mortal Kombat series. The cast photo also confirms Karl Urban's appearance in the film,...

A new photo from Mortal Kombat 2's cast is seemingly teasing the look of Karl Urban's Johnny Cage. The upcoming sequel to 2021's Mortal Kombat will see Johnny Cage make his debut in the rebooted movie franchise after being teased during its predecessor's ending, where Cole Young (Lewis Tan) travels to Los Angeles to look for Cage. Linden Ashby and Chris Conrad previously portrayed the character in 1995's Mortal Kombat and 1997's Mortal Kombat Annihilation, respectively.

Producer Todd Garner has taken to twitter to share a picture of Mortal Kombat 2's main cast hanging out at a restaurant, as the movie has recently begun filming.

New friends and old friends… pic.twitter.com/S4al4gRZ8k — Todd Garner (@Todd_Garner) June 24, 2023

Fans were also quick to spot Urban pictured above with his beard shaven and having frosted tips in his hair, seemingly for his Johnny Cage look.

Mortal Kombat fans are feeling pumped up with the announcement of the upcoming sequel, Mortal Kombat 2. The film’s producer, Todd Garner, took to social media to assure fans that the movie is in full swing. Garner announced that filming for the sequel has officially commenced in Australia.

The producer exuded excitement and optimism. More importantly, he assured fans that the creatives behind the film have listened to their feedback. Garner is promising that the sequel will address the issues that plagued the 2021 reboot. That means, we’ll get to see some fixes in the story and characters as per Screen Rant.

Garner tweeted:

Off we go! I’m thrilled to start & trust me, we’ve listened. We’ve learned from the mistakes & are committed to making the best MK2 possible. I, 100% support everyone’s right to their opinion, but I have the right not to be abused & will block you.

After filling out its fighting roster, producer Todd Garner has announced Mortal Kombat 2's filming start. Plot details are being kept under wraps on the next chapter of the video game adaptation franchise, though it is expected to see the fighters of Earthrealm taking part in the eponymous fighting tournament in order to keep Shang Tsung and the forces of Outworld from invading. Development on Mortal Kombat 2 was officially greenlit in January 2022, nearly a year after the first movie's successful theatrical run and record-setting HBO Max debut.

Just over two years after the first movie hit theaters, Todd Garner took to Twitter to announce Mortal Kombat 2's filming start in Australia. In addition to expressing his excitement for what's to come from the sequel, the producer also assured that the creatives behind it have listened to fan feedback and fixing much of the 2021 reboot's mistakes. Check out...

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina actor Adeline Rudolph is set to play Kitana in New Line Cinema's upcoming Mortal Kombat sequel.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rudolph has officially signed on to the Mortal Kombat sequel as Kitana, the stepdaughter of the villainous Shao Kahn and staunch defender of Outworld and any other realm threatened by evil. Rudolph will be joined by her Chilling Adventures of Sabrina costar Tati Gabrielle, who is slated to portray Jade, Kitana's faithful childhood friend and fellow hero.

Related: Mortal Kombat Teases a Major Update Is Imminent

Based on the hit video game series of the same name, the next Mortal Kombat film is a sequel to 2021's live-action feature film, this being the second franchise adaptation following 1995's much-maligned albeit cult-classic version. Upon its release in 1992, the original Mortal Kombat video game quickly garnered critical acclaim and criticism for its overtly violent style and graphics.

The upcoming sequel to New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures' 2021 film adaptation of Mortal Kombat has found its Jade.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tati Gabrielle is in "final talks" to join the cast of Mortal Kombat 2 in the role of Jade. Gabrielle is no stranger to big-screen adaptations of popular video games, having recently played Jo Braddock in Sony's Uncharted movie. Gabrielle is also known for her role as Prudence Blackwood on Netflix's Archie Comics adaptation Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, as well as for her voice role as Willow Park on Disney Channel's The Owl House.

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Meanwhile, the character of Jade has been a staple of the Mortal Kombat video game series for 30 years. She first appeared as a secret boss in the 1993 arcade title Mortal Kombat II before becoming...

Exclusive: We hear that Netflix has preemptively picked up scribe Greg Russo’s spec script Seismic for six figures.

The thriller from the Mortal Kombat co-writer follows a single mother who fights to reunite with her missing son amid chaos after the Earth’s surface is decimated by a mysterious attack.

Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen & Dan Levine are producing for 21 Laps alongside Adam Kolbrenner for Lit Entertainment Group. Max Gains is overseeing for 21 Laps. and Patrick White is overseeing for Lit.

New Line’s Mortal Kombat opened to a robust 23.3 million stateside in April 2021 as theaters were finding their footing as part of a day-and-date HBO Max theatrical strategy during the pandemic. The pic went on to make about 84M worldwide.

Russo wrote Robotech for Sony with James Wan directing and Heatseekers for Paramount with Timur Bekmambetov attached to direct and Michael Bay and Chris Morgan producing. Other recent work...

James Wan nearly produced Resident Evil's movie reboot, and if he had, he may have saved the 2021 film. The Milla Jovovich Resident Evil movies were incredibly successful - collectively grossing over 1.2 billion worldwide - but critically, they were often panned. Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City was a total reboot of the series, and promised to be much more faithful to its gaming source material. While it carried a more overt horror tone and included fan-favorite characters and monsters, it was a major letdown. It suffered from too many subplots and lacklustre CGI effects in addition to stilted performances and dialogue.

Welcome To Raccoon City wasn't the original plan for a Resident Evil reboot, however. Instead, Mortal Kombat 2021 screenwriter Greg Russo wrote a horror-focused screenplay that used 2017 game Resident Evil VII: Biohazard as a "touchstone" for the story. The latter title was itself a relaunch for the video games,...

Mortal Kombat 2 star Lewis Tan teases the scale of the upcoming sequel. Released in April 2021, Mortal Kombat did not fare very well with critics, as video game adaptations generally don't, though it made its budget back and more at the pandemic box office and, at the time, was HBO Max's most-successful film launch. Mortal Kombat 2 was officially announced at the beginning of this year, though there haven't been many major updates since then, other than what the cast has teased during interviews.

Now, during a recent interview with ComicBook.com, Tan continues to tease Mortal Kombat 2. The Cole Young actor began by talking about how the recent Warner Bros. Discovery merger is affecting Mortal Kombat 2, before teasing the sequel itself, saying the movie is "going to be absolutely insane" and "way bigger." Read what Tan says below:

Well, it impacts a lot, but not really us in particular because New Line...

The Quad, alongside Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor and his production shingle Bach Enterprises, has set July 10 as their official start date for their next project “Miles Ryder Part One,” the companies announced on Thursday.

The feature film “Miles Ryder Part One” is described as a “John Wick” meets “Nobody”-style action thriller and centers on Miles Ryder, an everyday man who is forced to confront his mysterious and violent past, which he has long kept secret. After a brutal attack threatens to expose him and his secrets, Ryder’s hidden combat talent and almost supernatural fighting abilities are put to the test as he attempts to save his family – and potentially the world – from a dark force with a nefarious motive.

“Mortal Kombat’s” Greg Russo wrote the screenplay and is continuing to work on the project with the team.

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Nightdive has been creeping ever closer to finally getting their System Shock remake out the door, and at Gamescom, they’re getting the hype going once again with a new trailer. This time, we get the extra special treat of having the new trailer for System Shock narrated by Shodan herself!

Yep, that’s Terri Brosius, the voice of Shodan from the original System Shock, returning again to voice the iconic AI in the remake. As is the norm for Shodan, she voices her disdain for humans before introducing us to Citadel Station and its cyborg inhabitants, which has never looked better. There are also a few shots of the hacking minigames, which predictably have also been given a facelift from the original.

As for when we can finally set foot on Citadel Station, that’s the big question. The remake has been in the works since the Kickstarter launched way back in 2016. Nonetheless,...

New Line Cinema will adapt the popular video game "Space Invaders", into a live-action feature film, written by Greg Russo ("Mortal Kombat"):

"Space Invaders" (1978) was created by Tomohiro Nishikado, manufactured, sold by Taito, Japan...

...then licensed in the US by the Midway division of Bally as an arcade game. The title is noted as the first 'fixed shooter' game, earning points by defeating waves of descending aliens with a horizontally moving laser.

Home versions and variations of the game are estimated to have grossed over 13 billion in total revenue as of 2016, making it the highest-grossing video game of all time.

Producers of the new film are Weed Roads Pictures' Akiva Goldsman and Safehouse Pictures' Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell, with Warner Bros./New Line Cinema distributing.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Space Invaders"...

New Line Cinema is moving forward with a “Mortal Kombat” sequel, with the 2021 film’s director Simon McQuoid set to return, sources tell TheWrap.

The previous film was a new adaptation of the popular video game franchise that offered a grittier, more violent take on the material than the 1990s films. It was released in April of 2021 both in theaters and on HBO Max, and was an early pandemic hit for distributor Warner Bros., ranking as one of the top feature titles on HBO Max since the streaming service debuted.

Jeremy Slater is writing the screenplay for the sequel, and news of his involvement was first revealed in January.

“Mortal Kombat” marked McQuoid’s feature directorial debut, and the film ended with a clear path forward for the franchise as the titular challenge does not occur within the events of the first movie. A post-credits scene also teased the inclusion...

New Line Cinema is gearing up for some more fatalities. The studio has tapped Simon McQuoid to return to direct the sequel to “Mortal Kombat,” sources confirmed to Variety.

McQuoid, who made his feature directorial debut with the 2021 film adaptation of the beloved fighting video game series, will direct the sequel from a script penned by Jeremy Slater. The sequel will be the fourth overall film in the “Mortal Kombat” film franchise, after the original film in 1995 and its sequel “Annihilation” in 1997.

The 2021 film was a reboot to the film franchise, focusing on Cole Young (Lewis Tan), an original character to the franchise. A washed-up mixed martial arts fighter, Young who is suddenly hunted by the assassin Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim) and ends up dragged into the world of “Mortal Kombat,” a series of tournaments between champions of the Earthrealm and the chaotic Outworld. The film did not feature an official Mortal Kombat tournament,...

Exclusive: After the most recent Mortal Kombat pic overachieved at box office, New Line is ready to get back in to the arena on a sequel. Sources tell Deadline that Simon McQuoid is set to return as director for the follow-up to the 2021 action-adventure hit.

Mortal Kombat was McQuoid’s feature directorial debut and was released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max during the pandemic in April 2021.

The feature opened No. 1 at the box office and ranks among the top feature titles ever on HBO Max since the platform launched. While some point to F9 or A Quiet Place Part II as the pics that led crowds back to theaters post-pandemic, Mortal Kombat was one of the early features to take a crack to gauging audiences’ interest in returning to theaters — and the results surprised many, especially since the film premiered day-and-date on HBO Max. Execs were quick to get a sequel in development,...

Development continues on New Line Cinema's adaptation of Activision's 'old school'  video game "Space Invaders", into a live-action feature film, written by Greg Russo ("Mortal Kombat"):

"Space Invaders" (1978) was created by Tomohiro Nishikado, manufactured, sold by Taito, Japan...

...then licensed in the US by the Midway division of Bally as an arcade game.

The title is noted as the first 'fixed shooter' game, earning points by defeating waves of descending aliens with a horizontally moving laser.

Home versions and variations of the game are estimated to have grossed over 13 billion in total revenue as of 2016, making it the highest-grossing video game of all time.

Producers of the new film are Weed Roads Pictures' Akiva Goldsman and Safehouse Pictures' Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell, with Warner Bros./New Line Cinema distributing.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Space Invaders"...

Development continues on New Line Cinema's adaptation of Activision's 'old school'  video game "Space Invaders", into a live-action feature film, written by Greg Russo ("Mortal Kombat"):

"Space Invaders" (1978) was created by Tomohiro Nishikado, manufactured, sold by Taito, Japan...

...then licensed in the US by the Midway division of Bally as an arcade game.

The title is noted as the first 'fixed shooter' game, earning points by defeating waves of descending aliens with a horizontally moving laser.

Home versions and variations of the game are estimated to have grossed over 13 billion in total revenue as of 2016, making it the highest-grossing video game of all time.

Producers of the new film are Weed Roads Pictures' Akiva Goldsman and Safehouse Pictures' Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell, with Warner Bros./New Line Cinema distributing.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Space Invaders"...

The trend of adapting popular video games into live-action adaptations continues, key examples being 2021's "Mortal Kombat" and the recently released Netflix series, "Arcane," which is set in the "League of Legends" universe. According to a report by Deadline, Greg Russo, one of the writers involved in the "Mortal Kombat" movie reboot, will be writing and directing the upcoming "System Shock" series, which will be released on Binge.

"System Shock" is set to stream exclusively on Binge, a gaming streaming platform, with Russo serving as executive producer alongside Binge producer Allan Ungar, who also helmed the upcoming movie...

The post Mortal Kombat Writer Brings System Shock Adaptation to Binge Streaming Service appeared first on /Film.

As we recently learned, a live action System Shock series is in the works, of course based on the same-titled video game. And today brings an update on that particular project. A co-production between Binge and Nightdive Studios, the live-action System Shock series will stream exclusively on Binge.com, with Greg Russo (Mortal Kombat) writing & directing. Deadline […]

The post Live Action ‘System Shock’ Series in the Works from ‘Mortal Kombat’ Writer Greg Russo appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Greg Russo will bring his knowledge of adapting video games for screen to Binge, which has tapped the Mortal Kombat scribe to write and direct its upcoming live-action System Shock series.

Set to stream exclusively on Binge.com, an an upcoming gaming entertainment streaming platform, System Shock is based on Nightdive Studios’ action video game franchise. The original System Shock plunges players into Citadel Station in the year 2072, where an unnamed hacker wakes from a coma only to be confronted by murderous robots, killer cyborgs, malicious mutants, and a malevolent AI named Shodan that seeks to control Earth.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to work alongside the fantastic team at Binge and Nightdive Studios to bring the iconic System Shock franchise to life,” said Russo. “I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to make my directorial debut, and I finally found it.”

Added Binge Chief Content Officer...

Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam is the latest name rumored to be in the running for the fan-favorite role of Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2. Hunnam joins the likes of Ryan Reynolds, James Marsden, and wrestler The Miz mentioned as potential actors to portray the Mortal Kombat action movie star and martial artist. According to the latest rumor however, the studio have ignored these suggestions and are instead courting Hunnam for the part.

Charlie Hunnam is best known for his central role as Jackson "Jax" Teller in Sons of Anarchy, as well as his prominent roles in movies such as Pacific Rim, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, The Lost City of Z and The Gentlemen. Johnny Cage is one of the seven original characters, debuting in the first Mortal Kombat arcade game, and remains one of the most popular characters in the franchise to date, meaning he...

Mortal Kombat has done wonders for HBO Max after premiering on the platform, with one exec naming the video game adaptation as one of the streamer's "top assets." Based on the popular video game series of the same name, it was clear that there was a lot of excitement from fans heading into the movie when it was released in theaters and on HBO Max last month. While it was expected that the movie would do well, the powers that be at WarnerMedia were still surprised by the success of Mortal Kombat.

Just recently, HBO Max turned one year old after officially launching in May 2020. Brad Wilson, WarnerMedia executive vice president of growth and revenue, spoke about the success of the platform over the past 365 days in a new interview with IGN. Though acquiring popular shows like Friends has helped get subscribers to sign up, Wilson names Mortal Kombat as...

The new Mortal Kombat movie takes the mythology of the games it is based on very seriously. To that end, the film features many fan-favorite fighters from the games. The character of the ninja Rain was initially rumored to be in the film. But that rumor turned out to be only sort of true. In an interview with ComicBook.com, the writer of Mortal Kombat, Greg Russo, explained that the initial script for the film that he received did include Rain, but he decided to take out the character since he felt the script did not do him justice.

"Somebody talked about that Rain had been in... And he was. He was in a script at a certain point a long time ago. First of all, I was lobbying to remove it because I felt that he wasn't... I inherited that, and I felt like he wasn't done justice. And whenever...

Hollywood is more reliant on franchises than ever before. Practically every major new live-action movie is meant to be the start of a new cinematic universe. The recently released Mortal Kombat is no exception. The writer of the film, Greg Russo confirmed to ComicBook.com that Mortal Kombat is meant to be the start of a new trilogy.

"I'm hopeful. I'm hopeful. Fingers crossed that we can do more of this. I certainly... When I wrote this, I'll tell you, I wrote it as a trilogy. I didn't write the trilogy, but I wrote it with a trilogy in mind. I always think as a writer, we need to make sure that we leave ourselves places to go, that we don't paint ourselves into any corners."

Although based on the iconic gaming franchise, Mortal Kombat does not feature the titular "Kombat", an interdimensional tournament where the strongest fighters from different realms...

Even though the recent release of a new live-action reimagining of Mortal Kombat was met with a positive response from audiences, the character that was most talked about was one that did not even appear in the film. The cocky Hollywood star fighter Johnny Cage was conspicuous by his absence, and only showed up from the neck down in a poster at the end of the movie, as a teaser for a sequel. The co-writer of Mortal Kombat, Greg Russo, explained to Collider that an effort was made to make Cage's poster a suitably big deal for the audience.

"Johnny's tease at the end, the button, it changed different ways. I remember there were different versions of it. That poster was something that the design team did, which I love. I picked 'Citizen Cage' 'cause I just thought that was hilarious. 'Fight For Your Rights.' So I picked that...

Fans of the Mortal Kombat video games may have noticed various Easter eggs that were crammed into the new film so it's probably hard to imagine that some were actually left on the cutting room floor. Writer Greg Russo revealed that one popular Easter egg, in particular, was shot but ultimately removed from the final cut of the film. In a new interview with "Polygon",…...

Simon McQuoid's Mortal Kombat is perfectly set up for a sequel, but many fans want to see more of Sub-Zero in a prequel. Played by Joe Taslim in the video game adaptation, Sub-Zero stood out as a highlight for many fans. His rivalry with Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) has also been praised with some viewers left feeling there's still so much more left to tell with that particular story.

On social media, some fans have been asking for a Sub-Zero prequel, which could provide more backstory on the character and expand upon his feud with Scorpion. Over on twitter, one fan wrote after watching the Mortal Kombat movie: "Hi WB. Can I please had a prequel movie about Sub-Zero and Scorpion? Thank you."

Hi WB. Can I please had a prequel movie about Sub-Zero and Scorpion? Thank you. #MortalKombat

— Dave Grimes (@DawnoftheDave87) April 25, 2021

"Just make a prequel that focuses on...

Sub-Zero actor Joe Taslim says we will "probably" see Noob Saibot if Mortal Kombat gets a sequel, adding that he hopes it happens because he definitely wants to play the character. This month, Mortal Kombat was released to great success at the box office and high viewership on HBO Max. The story also lends itself to a sequel, but Mortal Kombat 2 hasn't yet been greenlit by Warner Bros. Before we proceed, be aware that spoilers lie ahead.

Should a follow-up Mortal Kombat movie happen, Taslim is ready and willing to return. In the video game lore, Bi-Han/Sub-Zero has his soul transformed into Noob Saibot after he is killed by Scorpion. As Taslim plays the Bi-Han version of Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat, it seems only natural for the character to similarly become Noob Saibot in Mortal Kombat 2. In a new interview with THR, Taslim also says as much...

Now that the live-action reboot of Mortal Kombat has been released to critical and commercial acclaim, fans are eager to know where the budding franchise is headed. One major complaint has been that the movie does not feature the titular tournament. In an interview with Collider, the film's co-writer, Greg Russo, explained that was a deliberate choice, and the next two parts of an intended Mortal Kombat trilogy will deal with the tournament and its fallout.

"Movie one, we were always kind of setting this up as - well I was setting it up, it's basically in my head - I always saw [movie one] as pre-tournament, then [movie two is] hopefully tournament, then [movie three is] post-tournament. So the idea was that this was going to be a pre-tournament movie that would hopefully sow the seeds for the tournament, the final."

Unlike the Mortal Kombat movies that released in the '90s, which jumped straight into the...

Mortal Kombat director Simon McQuoid says it's up to the fans to decide if the new video game adaptation will be getting a sequel. Directly inspired by the video game series, Mortal Kombat was released in theaters and on HBO Max on Friday. The ending of the movie lends itself to a sequel, but as of now, Mortal Kombat 2 is not yet officially in the works.

So, will or will we not be getting a sequel? After the movie's premiere, McQuoid spoke with Variety about the possibility. According to the director, it wasn't outright discussed during the production of Mortal Kombat as he wanted everyone to focus their efforts on this first movie. McQuoid then makes it clear that the Mortal Kombat team is very open to moving forward, but insists that it will be up to the fans to make it happen.

"Sequels are a bit tricky because you can't totally ignore them,...

Kitana fans might have been disappointed to learn that the fan-wielding fighter wasn't featured in the Mortal Kombat reboot, but there's a good chance she will appear in a potential sequel. In the new movie, which some fans consider the greatest video game adaptation ever made, Kitana's evil twin Mileena was included among the various characters from the game. However, for whatever reason, Kitana didn't make the cut this time around.

While Kitana wasn't physically present in Mortal Kombat, her presence was alluded to with an Easter egg that some fans may or may not have noticed. The fighter's bladed blue fan, her weapon of choice in the video game series, can be seen on display in the background at one point in the movie. This seems to confirm the character's existence in the Mortal Kombat movie, perfectly setting up a potential debut in Mortal Kombat 2.

In a recent interview with Variety,...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review, a review of the rebooted film franchise “Mortal Kombat,” a new action series based on the popular video game. In theaters and on HBO Max beginning April 23rd, 2021.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Lewis Tan is Cole Young, a mixed marital arts fighter with a golly-gee-whiz family, who encounters a man named Jax (Mehcad Brooks) who is a recruiter for a heroic group of ninja fighters named Shirai Ryu, born with a dragon tattoo … which Cole possesses. They are challenged by the Lin Kuel assassins of The Outworld – introduced by a Mr. Freeze type called Sub Zero – looking for another “mortal kombat” tournament, to defeat Shirai Ryu and the Earthstream (the version of our world). Cole has to go through training with a motley crew, including the volatile Kano (Josh Lawson), to find his super power to defeat their enemies.

“Mortal Kombat” is in theaters...

Following the release of Mortal Kombat in theaters and on HBO Max, many fans are declaring the new movie to be the greatest video game adaptation ever made. As is the case anytime a big release arrives, the new movie is drawing a variety of enthusiastic opinions. A common theme among them is the declaration that Mortal Kombat sets the new standard for video game adaptations.

"Mortal Kombat2021 was legit awesome. Good action, fun story, silly but awesome powers right from the games. Just what the fans wanted. Also the best video game movie made so far," says one fan on Twitter. "Go watch Mortal Kombat," tweeted another fan. "Probably the best video game movie ever made. Stays [true] to the source alot and feels fluid and great action. 10/10."

Mortal Kombat 2021 was legit awesome.

Good action, fun story, silly but awesome powers right from the games.

Just what the fans wanted.

As someone who has been a longtime apologist for Paul W.S. Anderson’s 1995 Mortal Kombat adaptation, I’ll be the first to admit that considering it has been nearly 26 years since that first film hit the big screen, we were definitely due for a new live-action take on the Mortal Kombat universe. And holy hell, does this new Mk deliver up a flawless victory—there’s more world-building in this new Mortal Kombat in the first five minutes than we get in the entirety of Mk (1995), and between the jaw-droppingly great action set pieces and a fantastic ensemble that does a brilliant job of bringing these iconic characters to life, I absolutely loved everything that director Simon McQuoid, as well as the film’s screenwriters Greg Russo and Dave Callaham, were able to bring to the table for Mortal Kombat (2021).

Simply put, this new Mortal Kombat kicks copious amounts of ass.

It was the gore as much as the gameplay that made the original “Mortal Kombat” such a success at the arcade, and while the 1995 New Line movie broke the curse on video game adaptations — following such bombs as “Street Fighter” and “Super Mario Bros.” earlier that decade — the film version did so by turning the koncept into a slick but kitschy action spectacular. While heavily indebted to Hong Kong cinema, the fluke hit (which made a whopping $122 million) hasn’t aged well, considering how much “The Matrix” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” transformed Hollywood fight scenes.

Now, “Mortal Kombat” gets the R-rated reboot its fans feel the property deserves, which entails being as graphic as the game was when it comes time for the pugilists to eliminate their opponents, whether that means ripping out their hearts or buzz-sawing them in twain with a razor-sharp hat. Such ruthless finishing moves may be the selling point here,...

CG strips martial-arts choreography of its impact, but it does allow for hilarious geysers of fake blood

Much has been made of the fact that 2021’s “Mortal Kombat,” the second feature-film adaptation of the popular video game, has an R rating — but strip away the exaggerated gore and the rough language, and you’re left with a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers movie with epic delusions. That’s not to say that this broad and silly spectacle doesn’t provide its share of goofy entertainment, but it may well not be the movie that fans of the game want it to be.

(To clarify: I’ve never played the game or seen the 1995 version that starred Christophe Lambert; for a fan’s perspective, check out this take by TheWrap’s Phil Owen..)

Viewers interested in martial-arts action are bound to find the combat-with-a-c to be lackluster in that way that hand-to-hand...