mortal kombat

MORTAL KOMBAT Producer: ‘No Release Date Or Trailer Until Theaters Re-Open’

Lee B. Golden III

I wasn’t sure if it be good rapport on my part to even post about this, but it’s become even more clearer that the new Mortal Kombat movie will not arrive on January 15, 2021 as expected. The film was previously dated for March 5 next year and moved up as casting and production news made the rounds for the Adelaide shoot that currently marks commerical director Simon McQuoid’s feature debut at the helm. “Well, I thought by the casts’ social media you would’ve figured out we’re shooting a few more days.” says producer Todd Garner to a fan via Twitter. “We’d always planned for it & thought we’d do it in March. The pandemic had other plans. We won’t have a release date for the movie until theaters re-open. Same for trailer.” Cast members Lewis Tan and Max Huang are just a few of the actors who’ve notably posted […]

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Happy 25th Anniversary, MORTAL KOMBAT

Lee B. Golden III

If you feel at like the first official teaser for Simon McQuoid’s Mortal Kombat is taking way, WAY longer than it should to arrive, you’re not alone. It’s been eight months since the film wrapped shooting in Australia, and you can’t help but imagine if we might have gotten one sooner had this terrible, horrible, no good, very VERY bad pandemic settled in. I’m thinking we would’ve. Frankly though, this takes nothing away from the conversation starter that was Paul W.S. Anderson’s 1995 endeavor from New Line Cinema, etching in the likes of Robin Shou (Liu Kang), Cary Tagawa (Shang Tsung), Christopher Lambert (Raiden), Bridgette Wilson (Sonya Blade), Linden Ashby (Johnny Cage), Chris Cassamassa (Scorpion), Talisa Soto (Kitana), François Petit (Sub-Zero), Trevor Goddard (Kano) and Keith Cooke (Reptile) into cinema history. That a feature adaptation was in the works was a total surprise for me, firstly seeing Ashby in a […]

MORTAL KOMBAT Bows In January 2021

Lee B. Golden III

Simon McQuoid’s Mortal Kombat is moving up seven weeks from its March 5, 2021 date to January 15, 2021, according to the trades reporting on Warner Bros. Pictures’ release date announcements and updates. Plot and story details remain on hold while fans continue to pine over the various social media accounts of the cast and producers to get the latest nugget from the set of the South Australia production. Presented by New Line Cinema, production began on September 15 and has since grown a cast that now includes Joe Taslim as Sub Zero, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, Mehcad Brooks as Jackson “Jax” Bridges, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Max Huang as Kung Lao, Sisi Stringer as Mileena, and Elissa Cadwell as Nitara. The only cast members so far whose roles remain unclear […]

MORTAL KOMBAT: Lewis Tan Shouts Out Two ‘Future Greats’ Behind The Action

Lee B. Golden III

Actor Lewis Tan took to Twitter on Thursday evening to signal fans his current status on choreography for the current production of Simon McQuoid’s feature debut, Mortal Kombat. Film Combat Syndicate responded to the actor with a question as to who fans should thank for fine-tuning the fight scene action to come, and Tan responded, naming stunt performers Chan Griffin and Anthony Rinna, calling them “Future greats.” Just learned the choreography for the finale… it is a beast on a whole diff level, and I’ve been doing this a very long time. Mind. Blown. #MortalKombat — Lewis Tan (@TheLewisTan) November 22, 2019 Chan Griffin and Anthony Rinna. Future greats — Lewis Tan (@TheLewisTan) November 22, 2019 Griffin’s IMDb page indicates he’s been doing stunts since 2010, with credits in fight scene coordination including films like S.S. Rajamouli’s Bahubali 2: The Conclusion and David F. Sandberg’s Shazam. He and Rinna both […]

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MORTAL KOMBAT Casts Actress And Stunt Performer Elissa Cadwell As Nitara

Lee B. Golden III

Debut director Simon McQuoid‘s Mortal Kombat is currently in production and screenwriter Greg Russo confirmed via Twitter this week that actress and stunt-multihyphenate Elissa Cadwell will claim the role of vampiric kombatant, Nitara. The news presently officiates Cadwell as the twelfth-named addition to the cast joining Joe Taslim, Ludi Lin, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Mehcad Brooks, Tadanobu Asano, Chin Han, Hiroyuki Sanada, Sisi Stringer, Max Huang and Lewis Tan, the latter whose role in the film remains under wraps. The same goes for the exact plot details as things stand, though Nitara’s presence in the game franchise dates back as far as 2002 in the Midway Games release, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. She shares space in the installment with the likes of franchise mainstays Reptile and Cyrax as she pursues the location of an orb that bounds her home world to Netherrealm. With the role of Nitara, MEAA member Cadwell […]

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MORTAL KOMBAT: Max Huang To Play Kung Lao As Cameras Roll In South Australia

Lee B. Golden III

Chinese/German actor and martial artist Max Huang is coveting the role of warrior monk, Kung Lao, for Simon McQuoid’s Mortal Kombat, which began filming in South Australia on Monday from New Line Cinema. The Award-winning Australian commercial filmmaker is making his feature debut based on the long-running hit game franchise from a script by Greg Russo. Game lore describes the bladed hat-wearing Kung Lao as the latest descendant (next to Liu Kang) of The Great Kung Lao who originally lost half a century ago to hulking four-armed Shokan champion, Goro, resulting in the start of Shang Tsung’s rule. The character, who has seen more than his fair share of triumph and tragedy throughout the storyline, has been with the game franchise since Mortal Kombat II in 1993, portrayed for the Midway games by Anthony Marquez, and voiced later by several actors for different installments, including Will Yun Lee and Sunil […]

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MORTAL KOMBAT: Chin Han To Steal Your Souls As Shang Tsung, Hiroyuki Sanada To Breathe Fire As Scorpion

Lee B. Golden III

Lots of hopes may have been dashed for fans of Mortal Kombat who’ve waited for Kevin Tancharoen to steer forward on his own adaptation, but it’s not like New Line isn’t making up for lost time either. News of the past month has awoken the fanbase with a heavy-handed roster of casting news for the new film now slated to begin shooting in less than a few weeks in Australia. The casting totaled to eight by Monday’s reporting this week until Tuesday’s news broken by Variety for the addition of actor Chin Han for the role of evil, manipulative sorceror, Shang Tsung, along with Hiroyuki Sanada for that of undead ninja warrior, Scorpion. The soul-stealing, shape-shifting cohort to Nether Realm’s armies along with the Emperor, Shao Khan, Tsung has popped in and out of the game franchise as a consistent antagonist against Earth Realm’s heroes. Game lore saw Tsung and […]

Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson and Lewis Tan

MORTAL KOMBAT Finds Sonya Blade And Kano In Jessica McNamee And Josh Lawson, Lewis Tan Also Cast With Mystery Role

Lee B. Golden III

Actress Jessica McNamee, and actors Josh Lawson and Lewis Tan will be joining the opposing forces of Earthrealm and Netherrealm in Simon McQuoid’s Mortal Kombat, due out in theaters March 5, 2021. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, McNamee and Lawson will tackle the roles of warring archrivals, Sonya Blade and Kano, while details on Tan’s role currently remain locked behind the Outworld portal away from prying eyes. Sonya Blade and Kano came into the original game franchise as archenemies with Blade seeking vengeance for the vicious murder of her partner at the hands of the latter, an elusive crimeboss and megainfluencer of the criminal underworld. During her trials with her Earthrealm allies in the games against the forces of Shang Tsung, the Emperor himself, Shao Khan’s and the manipulative gods overseeing the titular tournament, Blade would eventually ascend to the rank of General. Sal DiVita attributed his iconic playable incarnation […]

MORTAL KOMBAT Adds A Trio Of Kombatants To The Live-Action Film Adaptation Of Hit Fighting Game

Lee B. Golden III

Things are heating up in Outworld. THR‘s Heat Vision column is tracking further news on Mortal Kombat following Variety’s report signaling Ludi Lin for the role of Liu Kang. Newcome actress Sisi Stringer will tackle the role of Mileena while actors Mehcad Brooks (CW’s Supergirl) and actor Tadanobu Asano (Ichi The Killer, Zatoichi, Thor Ragnarok), will portray Jackson “Jax” Briggs, and the God of Thunder and Earthrealm defender himself, Raiden, respectively. Jax and Mileena didn’t appear in the game franchise until the second installment from the franchise’s former banner, Midway in 1993. Both continue to be fixtures in the game universe to this day next to Raiden, one of the first seven from the first game. Asano succeeds the likes of actors Christopher Lambert and James Remar who portrayed the lighting-born deity for the 1995 and 1997 films; On the small screen, actor Jeffrey Meek played the character in television […]

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MORTAL KOMBAT: Ludi Lin Tapped To Play Liu Kang For New Line Martial Arts Game Adaptation

Lee B. Golden III

Following the addition of Joe Taslim for the role of Sub-Zero, word now hails from Rebecca Davis at Variety with talk of actor Ludi Lin for the role of Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat from Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema. Captured by martial arts champion and actor Ho Sung-Pak, Liu Kang is one of seven original characters that emerged in the game’s 1992 launch from former banner, Midway. The character is known as an exiled Shaolin Monk who ventures into the tournament to battle evil sorceror Shang Tsung for the fate of Earth. The games’ franchise success paved the way for New Line’s own live-action films in 1995 and 1997 with actor and martial arts star Robin Shou portraying the role. Following suit, TV origin spin-off series Mortal Kombat: Conquest aired along with an animated series, while a third film never got off the ground. Years later, webseries in […]

Joe Taslim to play Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat

MORTAL KOMBAT: Joe Taslim Covets The Role Of Sub-Zero

Lee B. Golden III

The Night Comes For Us star Joe Taslim is first on the roster to be cast for Simon McQuoid’s upcoming Mortal Kombat film as key character, Sub-Zero. Production is officially slated to kick off later this year in South Australia. Movement on the film comes years since New Line launched its own live-action films in 1995 and 1997, followed by a TV series, an animated series, and a twebseries from Warner Bros. Digital shepherded by Kevin Tancharoen and Garrett Warren. James Wan is producing with Todd Garner, and with Larry Kasanoff, E. Bennett Walsh, Michael Clear and Sean Robins exec producing. Greg Russo penned the script based on the hit 1992 game which has maintained its shelf life to date with new installments. Taslim, best known for successes in film in television like The Raid franchise, Furious 6 and season two-bound Cinemax series, Warrior, is the latest actor to don […]

MORTAL KOMBAT Begins Production, Sets Release Date

Lee B. Golden III

The wheels are officially turning with pre-production on Simon McQuoid’s directing debut, Mortal Kombat on the hit game from creator Ed Boon. New Line Cinema has reportedly set the date for March 5, 2021 with production having just begun at Adelaide Studios’ Sound Stages in South Australia as cameras roll later this year. Greg Russo (The Highwaymen) penned the script which takes its cues from the hit Midway/Netherrealm Studios fighting game where warriors compete for the fate of mankind in an epic tournanent, overseen by warlords and gods alike. Cast, crew and official story details remain pending. James Wan (Aquaman) is producing with Todd Garner. Larry Kasanoff, who produced the initial two films in 1995 and 1997, is serving as executive producer with E. Bennett Walsh (Men in Black: International), Michael Clear (The Nun), and Sean Robins (Tag). (DEADLINE)

MORTAL KOMBAT: Pre-Production To Commence This Month In South Australia

Lee B. Golden III

Patrick Frater over at Variety is confirming the start of pre-production this month in Australia for award-winning commercial director Simon McQuoid‘s long-awaited adaptation of the hit game franchse, Mortal Kombat. According to the report, Steven Marshall, premier of South Australia confirmed the news in a press post alongside David Pisoni, South Australia’s minister for innovation and skills, and production consultan former Village Roadshow executive Greg Basser (The Whistleblower, Passengers). Greg Russo (The Highwaymen) penned the script which takes its cues from the hit game about a select handful of warriors competing in an epic tournanent for the fate of mankind against a ruthless warlord. Cast, crew and official story details remain pending apart from what’s been circulating the Twitterverse as there have also been tons of rumors and speculative reports on what could arise from this particular reboot – including rumors that this film was dead in the water. The […]

MORTAL KOMBAT: Joel Edgerton Reportedly Circling Key Kombatant Role In Simon McQuoid’s Adaptation

Lee B. Golden III

Simon McQuoid’s Mortal Kombat film is reportedly circling actor Joel Edgerton for the role of Kano according to an exclusive at That Hashtag Show. The news comes following word that screenwriter Greg Russo completed his latest script for the upcoming production which the report also states is being slated to shoot in the summer. The road to a new Mortal Kombat movie has been a long one from its heyday in the late 90s with Paul W.S. Anderson and John R. Leonetti respectively helming the first two films based on the then-Midway fighting game franchise created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. A third remained in limbo that supposedly would have filmed in Louisiana were in not for Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As the game franchise took shape under the Netherealm banner, Kevin Tancharoen sparked hope for a feature film with his own leaked proof of concept in 2010 featuring […]

MORTAL KOMBAT Screenwriter Talks Up His Completed Script, Characters And More

Lee B. Golden III

This is gonna feel like such a tease, but the folks over at Discussing Film were able to get in touch with Greg Russo on his progress with the screenplay for the upcoming Mortal Kombat film. The script is complete according to the report, and for which Simon McQuoid remains attached to direct as he’s been since November 2016. The inquiry therein by Eric Moskowski delves into the issue of the overall tone in comparison of sorts to the Marvel movies, and also which characters Russo generally finds pivotal to the mythology – though it still remains to be seen if they’ll be the darn movie because the studio’s lips are remaining tighter the seals of the upcoming Mueller report. Here’s the full exchange: INTERVIEWER: “I want to get a feel for what the tone is going to be. Because in my eyes, I’ve always seen Mortal Kombat as kind […]

Greg Russo Confirms MORTAL KOMBAT Script In Development, Confirms Character Addition (For Now)

Lee B. Golden III

Yes, I’m a little triggered. But in a good way. Thanks in large part to the tenacious Mortal Kombat fans on Twitter, screenwriter Greg Russo breathed new life in the long-awaited reboot of the classic gory tournamemt fighting game, confirming that fighting character Kabal would be in it. (You can read Russo’s reply to the fan account by opening the tweet). Who’s getting excited? I know I am. #MK #MortalKombat pic.twitter.com/aGTAtuW1Ar — Greg Russo (@WriterRusso) February 4, 2019 As game lore has it, Kabal, a former member of Kano’s Black Dragon outfit, was introduced in part three of the then-Midway-owned franchise, and was once partner to NYPD Special Riot Control officer Kurtis Stryker. Prior to surviving on a respirator with a mask to hide his horrific disformed face, Kabal was ambushed during Earth’s invasion, rendering him disfigured and near death. He’s since been imbued with powers of his own due […]

REMAKE/RECAST: Who Should Play ‘Kano’ In A MORTAL KOMBAT Film?

Lee B. Golden III

Actor and martial artist Darren Shahlavi left a gaping hole in the world of martial arts and cinema when he passed away on January 14, 2015 due to a rare case of Atherosclerosis. Before this, he was a vibrant, athletic, voracious talent who commanded the screen for years and years opposite the likes of Wu Jing, Gary Daniels, Eddie Murphy, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Donnie Yen, and eventually even coveting the role of criminal underground syndicate, Kano in Kevin Tancharoen’s webseries, Mortal Kombat: Legacy. The latter was especially a long-awaited one considering a third Mortal Kombat feature film installment remained stagnant for nearly fifteen years with late actor Trevor Goddard portraying the character in 1995. Alas, the good news is that apart from all prior news of litigation and despite many of the rumors being peddled by bloggers trying to get a leg-up on the fandom with “exclusives” that are […]

MORTAL KOMBAT Gets New Story Details, Character Descriptions And More

Lee B. Golden III

It’s been a few years since we learned of a director getting attached to an upcoming live-action reinstallment of hit fighting game IP, Mortal Kombat. Simon McQuoid is set to direct the film that many a fan have waited up to twenty years for and now with word exclusively from That Hashtag Show on Monday, there appears to be some character descriptions in our midst. The news comes following recent online buzz regarding potential filming locations in Chicago and overseas in New Zealand. First and foremost comes a likely reshaping of any expectations there intially might have been in terms of plot with James Wan still on board and producing. Greg Russo completed the latest script which, according to the aforementioned source, will introduce a new character in the form of Cole, a Philidelphia boxer who is recuited by a prophecy chaser to compete in the epic tournament deciding the […]

Action Stream: BAD BOYS, MORTAL KOMBAT, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, 24 HOURS TO LIVE And More!

Welcome to the April 2018 edition of ACTION STREAM! Compared to the blowout that was March, this month seems a little anemic. Of course, the one-two punch of Wolf Warrior 2 and Blade of the Immortal (not to mention Power Rangers and Jessica Jones) is a hard act to follow. Action fans may not be gaining much, but we’re also not losing much either. Between last month’s holdovers and a few pleasant surprises this month, it’s doubtful that anyone will be at a loss for entertainment. Netflix is the clear winner for April thanks to one film in particular, 24 Hours to Live. The film has been lauded as the DTV John Wick and Ethan Hawke continues to build an interesting filmography of genre films that are better than they have any right to be. The streaming giant will also be the home of celebrated Donnie Yen/Andy Lau headliner, Chasing […]

Christopher Lambert Talks New MORTAL KOMBAT Movie And A Possible Raiden Comeback

Lee B. Golden III

New Line Cinema Beware… I cuss a little bit here… Let me start off by telling you to forget what you think you probably already know or may have heard about Mortal Kombat regarding anything webseries or film. Most of the internet shit itself over a stupid fancast article that went viral citing how “they just cast the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie” or some dumb piece of shit headline like that. Shit like that pisses me off because it signifies how stupidhappy fans get over fake news – Even more so with respect to all things Mortal Kombat which is one film franchise I’ve been dying to see all the way through since it became a hit on the big screen in 1995 sans Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. No, we never saw a third occur as much as it was hyped about at the time and by 2010, all hope was […]