I don’t particularly stand in the majority here at Film Combat Syndicate amidst the reviews for Simon McQuoid’s feature directing debut, Mortal Kombat. With this, I can earnestly say I appreciate the dissent with regard to its merits as well as its flaws – the latter which ought to draw further conversations on how a sequel could be better improved.
To that end, as for whether or not McQuoid is returning to helm the sequel remains to be seen. A sequel has been confirmed, nonetheless, as Mike Fleming Jr. reported exclusively at Deadline on Wednesday, along with word of Jeremy Slater (upcoming Disney+ series Moon Knight) joining New Line Cinema’s efforts in penning the screenplay.
Slater replaces Greg Russo who wrote the inaugural script based on a story by Oren Uziel for the 2021 film which had long been in the works for a decade. Casting details remain pending, although as previously reported, the sequel may also enlist Indonesian action star Joe Taslim once more following his entry into the arena last year as Cryomancer and Lin Kuei ninja, Sub-Zero. The film also made an outro tease at the possible sequel appearance of game franchise fave Johnny Cage, actor also TBA.
Based on the hit fighting game, Taslim starred opposite actor and martial artist Lewis Tan who made his lead debut in a feature film with McQuoid’s Mortal Kombat, newly installed as a down-and-out MMA fighter who suddenly finds himself entrenched with a ragtag handful of warriors fighting for the fate of Earth in an ancient tournament against the forces of Outworld, and imbued with newfound powers ultimately after discovering his long-dormant lineage to the Shirai Ryu ninja clan. The film released simultaneously in theaters, as well as on HBO Max where it became a hit.
The film also starred Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Josh Lawson, Chin Han, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Daniel Nelson, Sisi Stringer and Max Huang.
More to come.