Evidently the event is nearly prepared to start, this time for actual. “Mortal Kombat II” was delayed to 2026 final 12 months, however the sequel is now almost upon us, as evidenced by the arrival of its new trailer. “Mortal Kombat” (2021) director Simon McQuoid is again on the helm for this follow-up, which additionally has Karl City suiting up for the primary time as fan-favorite Johnny Cage.
The largest hook right here, after all, is that we’re really going to see a event of fighters after 2021’s “Mortal Kombat” skirted that subject. And the place that film featured a model new character within the type of Cole Younger (Lewis Tan) as its protagonist, it seems the sequel has pushed him apart to make approach for among the best “Mortal Kombat” characters of all time in Mr. Cage.
The official “Mortal Kombat II” synopsis reads as follows:
This time, the fan favourite champions — now joined by Johnny Cage himself — are pitted towards each other within the final, no-holds barred, gory battle to defeat the darkish rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
Tadanobu Asano (Lord Raiden), Joe Taslim (Bi-Han), Hiroyuki Sanada (Scorpion), Adeline Rudolph (Kitana), Jessica McNamee (Sonya Blade), Josh Lawson (Kano), Ludi Lin (Liu Kang), Mehcad Brooks (Jax), Tati Gabrielle (Jade), Damon Herriman (Quan Chi), and Chin Han (Shang Tsung) spherical out the solid for the sequel. For extra on that, try the brand new trailer above!
The Mortal Kombat II trailer delivers what the primary film did not
The largest takeaway from this new trailer is that it is actually leaning into the concept that “Mortal Kombat II” will characteristic the precise event after 2021’s “Mortal Kombat” failed to take action (a lot to viewers’ frustration). So, in some ways, this sequel appears just like the film followers thought/hoped they have been getting the final time round, full with a reasonably menacing Shao Kahn serving as the large unhealthy. If that’s the case, it must be a marked enchancment on its predecessor.
Certainly, /Movie’s Chris Evangelista referred to as 2021’s “Mortal Kombat” an “underwhelming” online game adaptation that was “something however a flawless victory” in his assessment. Fortuitously, a variety of the issues that he and different critics had on the time appear to have been addressed by Simon McQuoid and author Jeremy Slater (“Moon Knight”) this time round. As such, “Mortal Kombat II” is shaping as much as be an actual crowd-pleaser, which explains why Warner Bros. moved the sequel to a major summer season film season launch date.
Assuming that is the case, it has been a very long time within the making. The 1995 “Mortal Kombat” film was a field workplace hit, however Hollywood spent many years making an attempt and failing to copy its success. Now, nevertheless, online game motion pictures and TV exhibits are, on the entire, each infinitely higher and extra devoted to their supply materials than ever earlier than, so there’s an actual likelihood that McQuoid and firm have managed to crack the code with this one. This is hoping.
“Mortal Kombat II” hits theaters on Might 15, 2026.
