Todd Garner, producer on the 2021Mortal Kombatlive-action film, has claimed that the movie won’t get a new release date or advance trailer until such a time as American theaters re-open. The news comes from a brief exchange on Twitter on the morning of November 10th, in response to a fan’s question.
Mortal Kombatwas originally scheduled to hit theaters in January of 2021, as per Deadline. Garner’s Tweet is the first announcement thatits release has been postponed. He also mentioned, however, that the cast and crew are using this time to do some additional shooting on the film, which was originally planned to take place in March.
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This marks the latest big delay for a mainstream movie in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is currentlyup-ending much of the American film industry. In the wake of last week’s presidential election, which is likely to come hand in hand with big changes to how the nation is addressing the pandemic, this effectively places theMortal Kombatmovie in limbo for the time being… or for as long as it takes its backers to get sick of losing money and stick it on VOD.
The newMortal Kombatstars Ludi Lin(Aquaman, Black Mirror),Joe Taslim(The Raid),Tadanobu Asano (Hogunin all theThormovies),Jessica McNamee(Sirens, Battle of the Sexes),Mehcad Brooks(Supergirl),Josh Lawson(House of Lies),Chin Han(Skyscraper),Hiroyuki Sanada(The Wolverine),Sisi Stringer (the 2020Children of the Cornremake), Lewis Tan(Iron Fist, Deadpool 2),and stuntwoman Elissa Cadwell making her acting debut. Simon McQuoid directs, froma screenplay by Greg Russoand Dave Callaham(The Expendables, Zombieland: Double Tap).Garner co-produces alongside James Wan, the creator of theSawandInsidioushorror franchises.
Official details about the newMKfilm’s plot are thin on the ground. Leaks seem to indicate that the new film is effectively a full reboot of the series, set on Shang Tsung’s island during the latest Mortal Kombat martial-arts tournament. Another leak, backed up by news of the film’s casting, claims thatMKmainstay Johnny Cage doesn’t have a big part in the movie. Instead, he’s replaced by newcomer Cole Turner, possibly played by Tan, a former professional boxer who attends the Mortal Kombat tournament in search of his missing wife. Turner subsequently ends up as the audience viewpoint character in what could be the last struggle for Earthrealm. Greg Russo has denied that, however, andclaimed last year on Twitterto have “big plans for J.C.”
This is the third live-actionMortal Kombatmovie, following 1997’sMortal: Kombat Annihilation. WhileMK:Aactually did make money, reportedly taking in $51 million on a $30 million budget, it was a hilarious critical misfire, currently boasting a stone cold 2% score on Rotten Tomatoes. (It’s actually #57 on the 100 Worst Movies of All Time list that RT maintains, just behindBaby Geniuses.) As a result, attempts to makea third live-actionMKwere in development hell for the next 20 years. The film in its current state has reportedly been in the works off and on since 2010, after Warner Brothers acquired the rights to theMortal Kombatfranchise from its previous owner, the defunct Chicago-based studio Midway.
In the meantime,Mortal Kombatfans can look forward to the debut ofMK 11 Ultimateon November 17th, which adds three new characters to the roster, includingSylvester Stallone as John Rambo. Yes, really.
