2021’s Mortal Kombat was the most successful live-action adaptation of the iconic video game in a franchise riddled with several let-downs in that department. However, the film was not spared from criticism, with the biggest being the omission of the iconic Mortal Kombat tournament. The tournament sees fighters from the Earthrealm take on those from Outworld as the destiny of both is decided in kombat. Several new fighters are coming into the fray in Mortal Kombat 2 as the tournament takes center stage and writer Jeremy Slater has addressed the coming fight fest in an interview with ComicBook.

In the 2021 film, Outworld sorcerer Shang Tsung (Chin Han) was ahead of the curve, looking to eliminate Earth’s fighters ahead of the tournament. His hit list included Cole Young (Lewis Tan), Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), Jax (Mehcad Brooks), Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee), Kung Lao (Max Huang) and Kano (Josh Lawson). He succeeds to a certain degree with fatalities to Kung Lao and Kano. “We came in with certain guide posts that were already in place,” Slater says of the 2021 film. “The previous movie promised there was a tournament coming and that Johnny Cage was going to be part of the story, somehow. Those were the two things we knew we had to work with and around.” Yes, Mortal Kombat 2 will see the arrival of Johnny Cage, who will be played by Karl Urban.

Urban’s Cage will be joined by other new characters, including the necromancer Quan Chi (Damon Herriman), Princess Kitana (Adeline Rudolph), Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), and the Edenian Jade (Tati Gabrielle). Slater goes on to add that he was insistent that the tournament happen in the upcoming sequel and not be put off any longer.

“I was adamant that we had to have this tournament in the movie. We can’t make people wait another movie and then be like, ‘Come back for the finale,’ It was finding a structure to make the tournament as satisfying as you want it to be because this had years of build-up. It’s figuring out who the individual matches are going to be, which characters do you pair off for maximum emotional impact, but also for the most dynamic fights. Then, also, what is the larger story you are telling between the tournament?”

‘Mortal Kombat 2’ Will Have a Story as Engaging As the Tournament Itself

Beyond the highly anticipated tournament in Mortal Kombat 2, the sequel has to extend beyond that, and tell a story that is both separate and fits seamlessly into the fighting. The 2021 film has set up some arcs to explore, with the rivalry between Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) and Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim) being possibly top of the list. Slater is aware of the need to tell a story that is as engaging as the tournament itself. The writer adds:

“I was very cognizant of that — that we need to be telling a story on the margins where there is just as much exciting stuff happening outside of the tournament as inside of the tournament, so you’re never bored and both of these stories are moving the movie forward.”

Mortal Kombat 2 is scheduled to be theatrically released on October 24. Stay tuned to Collider for more such updates.

Source: ComicBook