mortal kombat

DCU Fate Uncertain With Grahame-Smith Leaving THE FLASH

Word has it that things are in a little bit of upheaval at Warner Bros. where it’s being reported that Seth Grahame-Smith has left The Flash citing “creative differences”. BirthMoviesDeath reported the news along with word that The Conjuring 2 helmer James Wan may well leave Aquaman following his attachment nearly a year ago in the wake of the billion dollar success that was Furious Seven. The updates come on the heels of the latest box office results of director Zack Snyder’s Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice which has grossed $860 million globally. Box office figures be damned, however, that didn’t slow down the mixed-bag of reviews that have reportedly thrown the studio off of its axis with Snyder already in progress with filming for the first of two Justice League films opening in 2017 and 2019. The Flash, apart from its current TV run with a different actor, […]

NYC's Videology To Host A FREE Screening Of MORTAL KOMBAT This Friday!

Lee B. Golden III

1995 couldn’t have been a better time to be a gamer and martial arts movie fan. It was the year that we got the best of both worlds with New Line Cinema’s release of the hit live-action adaptation, Mortal Kombat, pitting three Earthrealm warriors in a multi-dimensional medium of supernatual proportions where the fate of our planet would be decided in life-or-death battles. For a PG-13 iteration of a relatively violent game, the film banked critically and commercially well among fans and movie goers alike, and new article posted on Tuesday at The Hollywood Reporter gets right down to the nitty gritty on how it all began, from dealing with naysayers and coping with location challenges, to off-set drama and on-set injuries, and finally its theatrical release. Moreover, of course the film led to a less-than-expemplary sequel but it still purported hopes for a third that never came, and nowadays […]

James Wan Has Reportedly Signed On To Produce The MORTAL KOMBAT Movie Reboot

Lee B. Golden III

Back in October of last year, Warner Bros. and its digital production arm, Blue Ribbon Content, announced the production of a third installation of hit webseries Mortal Kombat Legacy which has taken a foothold within the fanbase. It’s the only other development in anything Mortal Kombat since Kevin Tancharoen blessed fans with an amazing shortfilm that went viral in 2010 prior to what sounded like promising news for a glorious return to feature film territory since 1995 and 1997 from New Line Cinema. However, with Warner Bros. staking its claim with Tancharoen helming Mortal Kombat Legacy in 2011, news was slow to come regarding anything film related and by the second season in 2013, it was all for naught as Tancharoen, after two years of getting followed and trolled obsessively by fans pining for the best of what should have come by now for a movie and didn’t, left the […]

Get Ready For The 3rd Annual URBAN ACTION SHOWCASE & EXPO In New York City This Fall!

Lee B. Golden III

From L to R: Taimak, Demetrius Angelo and Michael Jai White pose for the cameras at Urban Action Showcase & Expo last November. The Urban Action Showcase & Expo has endured two successful runs since launching in 2013 at the behest of its founder and executive producer, Demetrius Angelo. Each event has been jam-packed with star-studded attendances, screenings and seminars hosted by a variety of figures in the action movie industry with an array of creatives lending their own projects to the fray for the hopeful attention of studios and platforms to gain recognition. As such, this Fall will mark the third installation and will take place at its current home between both HBO and AMC Empire 25 in the Times Square section of Manhattan in New York City the weekend of November 5. As per its motus oppurande, UASE 2015 wil aim to present its focus on diversity and […]

DOES IT HOLD UP?: Johnny Cage vs. Scorpion In MORTAL KOMBAT (1995)

Mortal Kombat hit at a crossroads in action movie history, a time when audiences may have heard of Hong Kong action but probably had never seen it for themselves. There had been glimpses in the past; from the Golden Harvest produced TMNT movies to John Woo’s Hollywood debut, Hard Target. Hollywood had spent most of the 90s easing American audiences in to the kind of action that Hong Kong was known for and Mortal Kombat was the first to wear its influence proudly. The fight scenes blew our prepubescent minds, but none had quite as much impact as the film’s centerpiece, Johnny Cage vs Scorpion. Does this fight stand the test of time, or should it be lost to history? 20 years later, that spear just looks adorable…. THE SETTING This fight as well as Liu Kang vs Reptile from later in the film, were both choreographed by leading man Robin Shou… […]

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Cary Tagawa Will Return As Shang Tsung For The New MORTAL KOMBAT Series

Lee B. Golden III

Machinima’s release of the hit webseries, Mortal Kombat Legacy is gearing up for a brand new season filming this month in Los Angeles by way of Warner Bros.’s digital production arm, Blue Ribbon Content. We already have an idea about who will be appearing while an official listing has yet to be made public, although every little bit of news that trickles does help. That being said, expect actor Cary Tagawa to tweeted his return in the role of aging Outworld sorceror Shang Tsung starting next week on Monday. Tsung emerged briefly in then-director Kevin Tancharoen’s first of two by way of actor Jonathan Phan in the third episode while Tagawa followed suit in season two, reprising a refurbished version of his iconic role from the 1995 feature film adaptation of the original game by Midway. It is not yet clearly known how the third season will depict its story, […]

MORTAL KOMBAT CONQUEST Comes To DVD In 2015!

Lee B. Golden III

The 1990s were a great decade to be a martial arts gaming fan if you loved any and all things Mortal Kombat. Based on Midway’s long-running game franchise, the hit series Mortal Kombat Conquest served as a prequel of events leading up to the two feature films from New Line Cinema, arriving just in time when fans were still waiting for a third Mortal Kombat movie that seemed hopeful at the time. Sadly, there was never a third, and we are now even farther from the hopes of a feature-length reboot inspired by Kevin Tancharoen’s popular conceptual ‘Rebirth’ promo and subsequent ‘Legacy’ webseries from Machinima which is reportedly still on par for a third season. But don’t be too troubled, especially if you grew to enjoy ‘Conquest’ and long for that nostalgic feel once more, because the series is finally heading to DVD to help tie you over before then! […]

Kevin Tancharoen Set To Direct THE GUNS OF CHRISTMAS PAST

Lee B. Golden III

Well, it’s not Mortal Kombat, but director Kevin Tancharoen is still very much an active filmmaker with a new project lined up in the form of The Guns Of Christmas Past for Voltage Pictures. The film reportedly puts a loose spin on Charles Dickens’ 1843 classic, A Christmas Story, centered on the modern day story of self-realization about a retired Chicago hitman who comes home to avenge the death of his friend, forced to fight his way past three unlikely adversaries from his past, present and future. The news comes as the director, best known for firing up the Mortal Kombat fan base in the past four years with a leaked stellar action packed shortfilm, and a two-season webseries, which were recently fueled by some micro blurbs of a possible third season in development. Tancharoen unceremoniously left the Mortal Kombat fray late last year prior to recent developments back in […]

#WhosNext? Ed Boon Teases MORTAL KOMBAT X!

Lee B. Golden III

Fan artwork by @DavidSavage27 On Monday, game enthusiasts found a reason to stay excited thanks to the latest announement for Mortal Kombat X, the new Mortal Kombat game in the longstanding and popular franchise, courtesy of Netherrealm Studios own Ed Boon. And incorporated with it is the brand new teaser featuring iconic characters Sub-Zero and Scoropion, illustrating what awaits hardcore fans of the series when it releases next year. Fueled by next-gen technology, Mortal Kombat X combines unparalleled, cinematic presentation with dynamic gameplay to create an unprecedented Kombat experience. Featuring an original track by Wiz Khalifa titled “Can’t Be Stopped.”

Kevin Tancharoen Surprises The Internet With News On MORTAL KOMBAT LEGACY 3!

Lee B. Golden III

I’m a little beside myself this morning as I just sat in front of some really intriguing news involving the fever-pitch campaign of enduring patience for any and all news regarding Mortal Kombat. Ever since filmmaker Kevin Tancharoen shook the fan community with news of his departure from the franchise, one could only assume what would happen next only after a seven-minute pitch trailer for a potential feature film, and a two-season Machinima webseries based on the highly popular game. Well, after recently unveiling his latest collaborations with the Jabbawockeez for Regenerate, and the latest pilot episode for The Gable 5, the director is now on record stating talks with Mortal Kombat co-creator and producer Ed Boon and the execs at Warner Bros. will occur this week to get the third season approved. “We are starting to talk about it [Legacy Season 3] literally this week (knock on wood).” Tancharoen […]

[UPDATED] Krowdfunding Begins For MORTAL KOMBAT: THE ONE

Lee B. Golden III

UPDATE: This article now includes newly added links to the crowdfunding page that began on Wednesday, following the Tuesday posting of this article. While any promise of screenwriter Oren Uziel’s script for a feature-length live-action Mortal Kombat movie continues to sit in a painful state of limbo, inspired fan film efforts are keep things moving forward with the latest trailer for the unofficial shortfilm production, Mortal Kombat: The One. Set to begin production later this year for a Fall airing, the new project comes from from student filmmaker Anthony Pellino, whose script for the film’s possible 12-to-15 minute duration will center namely on characters, Lin Kuei ninja Sub-Zero and the God of Thunder himself, Raiden, loosely based on the plot from the original games. SYNOPSIS: Set a few years before the 10th tournament in Manhattan, Rayden is desperate. He has very few leads on potential fighters, and he knows this […]

In Defense Of A TEKKEN Reboot

Lee B. Golden III

*The following article is a crosspost from my debut on Monday, November 18, 2013 at The Action Elite. In the course of the past four years, I’ve had a thought brewing in my mind regarding tournament fighting games and movies. You see a lot of editorials out there about why those kinds of films suck, or articles listing best-to-worsts or worst-to-worser titles, or even some write-ups on what kind of fighting games or RPGs would make good live-action installations for film. Of course, the biggest, most notable fighting games to be mentioned over the years have been titles like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Tekken and King Of Fighters, and so on. And I look at some of those articles fancasting actors and I get twisted when I see some suggestions for certain characters, especially since their picks don’t necessarily match the reality of how the character could look on screen. […]

Kevin Tancharoen Retires From MORTAL KOMBAT

Lee B. Golden III

Writer and director Kevin Tancharoen (left) with actor Ian Anthony Dale on the set of Mortal Kombat Legacy (2011) April Fools’ Day is long gone for the remainder of its following year. So, one may be baffled by Kevin Tancharoen‘s latest announcement on Twitter on Friday night, stating he would be parting ways with Mortal Kombat, ending his role with the franchise as the writer and director of the pending film and two previous webseries seasons for Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. After 3 years of Kombat,I’ve decided to move on to other creative opportunities. I wish everyone involved in the movie big success. Thanks! — Kevin Tancharoen (@KTANCH) October 25, 2013 The announcement comes just a month off the release of the second season of Mortal Kombat Legacy with talk of a third season and a film that has since been reported to be actively developing. Progress on the film […]

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[UPDATED] Behind The Scenes With The Cast And Crew Of MORTAL KOMBAT LEGACY 2

Lee B. Golden III

Machinima has three new behind the scenes featurettes this week in their post-debut celebration of Mortal Kombat Legacy: Season 2. The clips feature collective excerpts from the cast and crew, including writer and director Kevin Tancharoen. Mortal Kombat Legacy: Season 2 debut on Machinima‘s YouTube channel a little less than a year after completing filming in late 2012, following the major success of Mortal Kombat Legacy: Season 1 in 2011. Talk of a third season is still keeping the fanbase alive in addition to further hopeful news about the currently developing film from a screenplay by Oren Uziel, so stay tuned for more info as it comes. In the meantime, catch all ten episodes of Mortal Kombat Legacy: Season 2 by CLICKING HERE, and remember to subscribe to Machinima and follow Kevin on Twitter at @KTANCH. MKL2: The Characters MKL2: The Director Pt. 1 MKL2: The Director Pt. 2 NEW! […]

YouTube Stars Join Machinima In Celebrating The Release Of MORTAL KOMBAT LEGACY 2

Lee B. Golden III

This week is chock-full of Mortal Kombat gems in light of the latest premiere of Mortal Kombat Legacy: Season 2. With the latest team effort from EMC Monkeys having released their own promotional piece for the series, several other directors also joined the fray, including Mike Dahlquist, Caine Sinclair and David Moore. For the first, Dahlquist (a.k.a. Mike Diva) brings EMC Monkey team members Johnny Yang and Tony Sre in a classic duel to the bloody finish as Scorpion and Noob Saibot. Unlike Yang’s previously clip as Raiden, this one brings fatalities, all the more reason to watch and enjoy. The next video features exquisite work from the team members of Sub Over Hype, with Kristina Baskett, James Hutchison and Solomon Brende starring as classic characters Kitana, Sub-Zero and Scorpion. The choreography is very good with tasteful performances from the cast, including Baskett who, aside from MKL2‘s Samantha Jo, […]

The EMC Monkeys Spoof Classic Characters In MONKEY KOMBAT

Lee B. Golden III

“Long time MK rivals do battle, EMC style!” On the day of Machinima’s debut of director Kevin Tancharoen’s Mortal Kombat Legacy: Season 2, the EMC Monkeys are presenting their latest project, effectively titled Monkey Kombat. Directed by EMC member Paolo Ongkeko, the project was the result of creative efforts by the team back in March after being sought by Machinima to make a Mortal Kombat video to ramp up promotion for the series. Monkey Kombat features EMC’s own Johnny Yang and Xin Sarith Wuku in their respective roles as the God Of Thunder, Raiden, and the Outworld emperor’s demon sorceror, Shang Tsung, performing classic moves paying homage to the game, from costumes and special moves, to the X-Ray gags, and a classic finishing move that adds to the usual unique touch the Monkeys leave for each of their projects and the fans who love them. Take a look, and […]

New Character Banner For Mortal Kombat Legacy 2 + Movie Details

Lee B. Golden III

Just two days away from the airing of Mortal Kombat Legacy 2, the official Machinima Facebook page has unveiled its newest character banner, featuring two of its main characters in costume, Mark Dacascos as devout warrior monk Kung Lao, and Brian Tee in a unique portrayal of the classic character Liu Kang. The series comes two years after the success of Mortal Kombat Legacy, with nine episodes that followed the viral success of a leaked 7 minute short film/trailer pitch from director Kevin Tancharoen who eventually got the attention of Warner Bros. prior to choosing him as the helmer of both online seasons and the currently developing film rebooting the 1995 and 1997 installments. Tancharoen recently went on record in a brief interview with ComingSoon.net to state the current progress with the Mortal Kombat movie regarding the script, telling the public “We’re still pushing through on that. The script is […]

SDCC 2013: Details From The MORTAL KOMBAT LEGACY 2 Panel

Lee B. Golden III

I’m not at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, and largely because I live too damn far and don’t have the means to travel. Yes, woe is me, indeed. However, if you live in the area and managed to get inside to check out the action packed panel for Mortal Kombat Legacy: Season 2, chances are you got to hear from the cast, as well as receive some pretty exclusive treatment courtesy of director Kevin Tancharoen. The panel also included franchise co-creator and Netherrealm Studios creative director Ed Boon producer Lance Sloane, along with select cast members Ian Anthony Dale, Samantha Jo, Casper Van Dien and Brian Tee. Although not for the Mortal Kombat Legacy 2 panel, Season 2 co-star and actor Eric Jacobus was also in attendance promoting his latest projects, including Rope A Dope and the latest Japanese release of his latest 2012 co-production with Action Pact Entertainment, […]

MORTAL KOMBAT LEGACY 2 Cast, Director Heading To SDCC

Lee B. Golden III

It’s the news BEFORE the news that Mortal Kombat fans are longing to follow up on in attendance at San Diego Comic Con, with the upcoming September web airing of Mortal Kombat: Legacy – Season 2. And with a movie currently in the works (in addition to the creation of a new original character for the currently developing film), hopefully the public will gain a more broader and bigger (apologies for the pun) a taste of things to come. Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers), Brian Tee (The Wolverine), Ian Anthony Dale (Mortal Kombat: Legacy), Samantha Jo (Mortal Kombat: Legacy), and Ed Boon (creator of Mortal Kombat) join series creator and director Kevin Tancharoen (Mortal Kombat: Legacy), producer Lance Sloane (Mortal Kombat: Legacy/Act of Valor), and Machinima’s executive vice president of network programming Aaron DeBevoise for an in-depth discussion about the highly anticipated second season of Mortal Kombat: Legacy, set to premiere exclusively on Machinima, the number one global video entertainment brand for young males. Moderated […]

Scorpion Claims His Vengeance In A New Clip For MORTAL KOMBAT LEGACY SEASON 2

Lee B. Golden III

During a recent 24-hour live stream hosted by Machinina to celebrate Machinima Prime’s first birthday, host Khail Anonymous sat down for some game time and a little talk with Kevin Tancharoen, the either loved or hated, but VERY talented writer and director of the highly acclaimed short film, Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, both seasons of the hit webseries, Mortal Kombat Legacy, and the currently developing Mortal Kombat feature film with “Rebirth” and “Men In Black 4” scribe Oren Uziel. It was yesterday that fans finally got past a day to view a new clip from the webseries shared by Tancharoen near the very end of the 24-hour anxiety driven waiting period, which adds to the excitement already heightened by several bits of promotional footage now available online, including an official trailer, a television trailer, Cannes footage, and talk of a September release from some of the cast members at a recent […]