If you don’t remember 2021’s live-action reboot of Mortal Kombat, there are two things you should know. One, it was surprisingly fun, mostly because Hiroyuki Sanada played Scorpion and Joe Taslim played Sub-Zero, and their rivalry was the hook the entire film hung on. Unfortunately, by the end of the movie they’re both dead (well, technically Scorpion died at the start of the film but then came back as a ghost to fight, but then he really left). The second thing you should know — and this is really important — is that there was no Mortal Kombat in Mortal Kombat. The movie turned out to be a prequel, with Raiden (Shōgun’s Tadanobu Asano) assembling Earthrealm’s champions for the bloody tournament that has yet to begin.
So does that make Mortal Kombat II the real Mortal Kombat? Based on the trailer, it sure looks like we’re finally getting some Mortal Kombat tournament in our Mortal Kombat movie! Karl Urban stars as the newest recruit, Hollywood action star Johnny Cage, and he’s joined by fellow newcomers Kitana (Adeline Rudolph) and Jade (Tati Gabrielle) this time around. Returning stars include Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, and Lewis Tan as Cole Young — though you’ll barely notice him in the trailer, despite the fact that he was the main character in the first film. Seems like the franchise is pivoting entirely to Urban as the star, and that’s a smart move.
You know who is in the trailer a bunch? Hiroyuki goddamn Sanada! Somehow, Scorpion and even Sub-Zero are back, and I for one shall not question it. It was dumb to kill them off the first time! Besides, it’s a Mortal Kombat movie — are we really going to quibble about continuity in our interdimensional deathmatch video game adaptation? Ghosts can fight; it’s fine!
Mortal Kombat II will be released in theaters (not on HBO Max this time) on October 14, 2025.
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