We should be used to headlines like this by now, but Warner Bros. have announced that they’re pushing back the release of their Mortal Kombat reboot to a later date. Before you get too mad and start shadow kicking everything in frustration, the good news is that the delay will only be one week.
The James Wan produced videogame adaptation will now get a simultaneous theatrical and HBO Max release on April 23rd, 2021. No reason was given for the move, but with the Warner Bros. 2021 slate performing quite well using this new release format (Tom & Jerry – $37 million and counting), maybe the studio want to allow Godzilla vs. Kong more time to breathe at the box-office, as venues across the country continue to open.
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Based on Midway Games infamous 1992 fighting game, this will be the third time that the Mortal Kombat characters have been pitted against eachother on the big-screen. Paul W.S. Anderson’s Mortal Kombat was a relative success when it was released in 1995, punching and kicking its way to $122 million worldwide, while its sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation didn’t fare as well, only grossing $51 million.
“In “Mortal Kombat,” MMA fighter Cole Young, accustomed to taking a beating for money, is unaware of his heritage—or why Outworld’s Emperor Shang Tsung has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero, an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt Cole down. Fearing for his family’s safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade at the direction of Jax, a Special Forces Major who bears the same strange dragon marking Cole was born with. Soon, he finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden, an Elder God and the protector of Earthrealm, who grants sanctuary to those who bear the mark. Here, Cole trains with experienced warriors Liu Kang, Kung Lao and rogue mercenary Kano, as he prepares to stand with Earth’s greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe. But will Cole be pushed hard enough to unlock his arcana—the immense power from within his soul—in time to save not only his family, but to stop Outworld once and for all?”
Mortal Kombat is scheduled for a simultaneous release in theatres and on HBO Max this April 23rd and stars Lewis Tan as Cole Young; Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade; Josh Lawson as Kano; Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden; Mehcad Brooks as Jackson “Jax” Bridges; Ludi Lin as Liu Kang; Chin Han as Shang Tsung; Joe Taslim as Bi-Han and Sub-Zero; and Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion; Max Huang as Kung Lao; Sisi Stringer as Mileena; Matilda Kimber as Emily Young; Laura Brent as Allison Young; and Daniel Nelson as Kabal.
