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Here’s All We Know About Warner Bros. Pictures’ 2025 Line-Up (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Warner Bros. Pictures is all set to take over the silver screen this year with a diverse range of films, including highly-anticipated blockbuster movies like Superman, Jurassic World: Rebirth, The Conjuring: Last Rites, Final Destination: Bloodlines, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Wicked: For Good, A Minecraft Movie, Mortal Kombat II, Brad Pitt’s F1 movie and a film on the legendary pop star Michael Jackson. It will be the highest number of theatrical releases in 2025, more than any other studio.

Academy Award-winning Bong Joon-Ho’s Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattinson, releases on March 7. Meanwhile, Jason Momoa and Jack Black’s A Minecraft Movie arrives on April 4. The former is Ashton Edward’s 2022 novel Mickey7, while the latter is inspired by one of the most popular games in video game history.

New-age director-actor duo Ryan Coogler and...

Mortal Kombat 2 has a chance to redeem the mistake of another sequel in the franchise. Even though Mortal Kombat has become a well-known and iconic franchise because of its action-packed video games, the movies have not always fared well with critics and audiences. The first ever Mortal Kombat movie was released in 1995 to mixed reviews. It was not a terrible movie adaptation of the iconic video games, but there was a lot of room for improvement. 1997's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation had the chance to improve on its predecessor, but was instead torn apart by critics.

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation has a shockingly low score of 4% on Rotten Tomatoes (via Rotten Tomatoes). This score ensured that no more Mortal Kombat movies would be made for more than 20 years. However, the franchise was finally rebooted on the big screen with 2021's Mortal Kombat. Similar to the very first movie, 2021's Mortal Kombat also received mixed reviews,...

When you're in "Star Wars," you don't always need that many lines or that much screen time to become a fan favorite. Just ask Ray Park, who quickly shot to fame within the fandom after playing Darth Maul in 1999's "The Phantom Menace." Park doesn't utter a single word as the character, as Maul's few lines were dubbed over by Peter Serafinowicz. When the character was resurrected for "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "Star Wars Rebels," he was voiced by veteran voice actor Sam Witwer instead. But Park's version of Maul has remained near and dear to fans' hearts due to his unforgettable physical presence and martial arts ability. And yet, he likely would have never been cast if not for a truly terrible movie.

In 1995, "Mortal Kombat" gave us one of the best video game movies we'd seen in decades. It's goofy and campy, sure, but it's also fun,...

Seeing characters like Scorpion and Sub-Zero on the big screen again in 2021's Mortal Kombat was great, but there are several aspects of the film that the upcoming sequel can improve upon. 2021's Mortal Kombat was the first live-action movie in the franchise in 24 years. The story of the newest Mortal Kombat film follows Cole Young, a mixed martial arts fighter who is being hunted by Sub-Zero. Cole finds refuge at Lord Raiden's temple, where he trains with fighters like Sonya Blade, Jax, Liu Jang, and Kung Lao.

The cast of 2021's Mortal Kombat includes Lewis Tam, Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Jessica McNamee. The movie currently has a score of 55% on Rotten Tomatoes (via Rotten Tomatoes), and while that is not necessarily high, it is the best-reviewed live-action Mortal Kombat film ever. Therefore, hopefully the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 can continue this upwards trend by improving on the more disappointing aspects of its predecessor.

Mortal Kombat (1995) may not have been a perfect video game adaptation, but it did a few things right that should serve as inspiration for Mortal Kombat 2. For how successful Mortal Kombat has been since 1992, it is surprising how the franchise has yet to have a definitive movie adaptation. The first Mortal Kombat film was fun and has become somewhat of a cult classic, but it wasn't a very faithful adaptation and couldnt capture the spirit of the original game. It got a sequel, but Mortal Kombat: Annihilation was one the worst films ever made.

Mortal Kombat (2021) marked the franchises return to the big screen after two decades, and it seemed like it would correct the previous two films mistakes. From great cast decisions to the R rating, Mortal Kombat (2021) had everything it needed to be the movie Mk fans had been waiting for since the first game came out.

Mortal Kombat 2 will continue the franchise with a direct sequel to the 2021 reboot, and the new movie seems to be improving upon its predecessor in a lot of ways. Mortal Kombat (2021) was the third theatrical live-action Mk film and the first since 1997. As a reboot, the latest Mortal Kombat needed not only to introduce the characters and establish the lore but also set up elements that could be explored in a sequel. Surprisingly, the reboot skipped the tournament altogether, most likely saving it for the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2.

Mortal Kombat (2021) has a 55% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the best-received out of the three theatrical live-action Mortal Kombat movies. However, it was not the definitive adaptation of the video game many had been expecting ever since the franchise first jumped to the big screen in 1995. The Mortal Kombat reboot had a few problems, one of which had...

The best-received Mortal Kombat movie is also the most underrated - and proves it shouldn't be so hard to get the live-action side of the franchise right. Video games are notoriously tricky to adapt to the big screen, and one of the few to succeed during the 1990s was the original Mortal Kombat movie. This had to water down the game's bone-crunching violence, but was a fun adventure with some solid fight sequences. Sadly, the 1997 sequel was a total dud, with Mortal Kombat: Annihilation's final cut being an unfinished workprint that producers somehow deemed worthy of release.

It took decades for Mortal Kombat 2021 to arrive, with the reboot cranking the violence all the way up to an R. However, the reviews for this outing were decidedly tepid, due to its bizarre decision to withhold the titular tournament until the sequel, and the blandness of new protagonist Cole Young (Lewis Tan). Hopefully,...

A new episode of the Revisited video series has just been released, and with this one we’re looking back at the 2005 video game adaptation Doom (watch it Here) – a movie that didn’t spawn the sort of franchise the game did, but there was a second movie that was released direct-to-video in 2019. Oddly, the title of that movie was Doom: Annihilation, just like the original video game adaptation of Mortal Kombat received a sequel called Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. That’s a story for another time – for now, you can hear all about Doom by checking out the video embedded above.

Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak from a screenplay that was crafted by David Callaham and Wesley Strick, Doom has the following synopsis: Something has gone wrong at a remote scientific research station on Mars. All research has ceased. Communication has failed. And the messages that do get through are less than comforting.

When the live-action adaptation of The Last of Us hit the streamer, HBO didn’t just birth a miracle. The dystopian apocalyptic series went above and beyond the expectations of a world deprived of moderately good content after decades of witnessing the likes of Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and Assassin’s Creed.

The Last of Us [Credit: HBO]

From Super Mario Bros. – the very first video game to live-action adaptation released in 1993 to Borderlands – the latest one to hit the big screen, critics and audiences have mercilessly trolled the genre due to the studios’ inability to get it right. There exists an inherent difficulty in juxtaposing the two entirely separate media of film and gaming together in a way that would satisfy the attachment of hardcore gaming fans while also serving the taste of cinephiles.

HBO’s The Last of Us cracked the secret code that balanced the two extremes and Neil Druckmann finally reveals how.

Rewatching Mortal Kombat: Annihilation 27 years later reveals some hilarious truths about the worst Mortal Kombat movie, including some good ideas and decisions that ended up being wasted. Often listed as one of the worst video game movies of all time, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation came out on November 21, 1997, as a direct sequel to 1995s Mortal Kombat. With a new director and an almost entirely new cast, Annihilation little resembled its predecessor.

With Mortal Kombat 2 releasing in 2025 following the 2021 reboot, its interesting to look back at the franchises first live-action sequel. Mortal Kombat (1995) had been a solid hit, grossing over $122 million worldwide on a budget of $20 million. Unfortunately, Annihilation was worse than its predecessor in every way. The films disastrous critical reception killed its box office right after the opening weekend, with Annihilation only grossing $51.3 million on a $35 million budget. While its difficult to find redeemable qualities about Annihilation, the movie makes for a fun rewatch.

Next month should be huge for Sonic fans as, in addition to Sonic the Hedgehog 3s marketing campaign starting soon, Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) is coming to Netflix on September 1. One of the most successful multi-media franchises of the last four decades, Sonic the Hedgehog started in 1991 with Segas Mega Drive game and has since spawned countless adaptations and products. Still, it was only in 2020 that Sonic made it to the big screen.

Starring Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic, Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik, and James Marsden as Tom Lord Donut Wachowski, Sonic the Hedgehog brings its titular character into the real world. The movie has Sonic traveling from his universe to ours and making Green Hill his new home, a dynamic Sonic fans were no strange to thanks to Sonic X. Sonic lives a happy but unfilled life until he has to team up with Tom to stop Doctor Eggman in a hilarious,...

What are video games but a miserable pile of secrets? It’s always expected for developers to throw some extra unlockables in their games, whether they are extra lives, unlimited ammo, stage select, extra characters, or whatever. A lot of times these come out within a couple of months or even days. Magazine sections were dedicated to these babies and there was a whole genre of unofficial guides for this type of thing back in the day.

Still, some developers have hidden their secrets so well that it takes forever for people to discover them. That’s what this list is about. The one ground rule here is that I’m going to try and discuss secrets that are genuinely entertaining to the player. None of this stuff where you can find a hidden picture of a developer’s nephew’s birthday party. Believe me, there are so many of those out there.

Mortal Kombat 2 teases a unique Johnny Cage, different from previous adaptations. Mortal Kombat 2021 left Cage out, but Karl Urban's portrayal in the sequel is highly anticipated. Urban's take on Cage is expected to stay true to the character's core while delivering something fresh.

Mortal Kombat 2s Johnny Cage is expected to be different from what audiences may be expecting, which is a huge risk after the 2021 reboots divisive decisions. More than 20 years after the Mortal Kombat: Annihilation disaster, the Mk franchise returned to the big screen with a brand-new film that rebooted the saga. Although Mortal Kombat (2021) included a lot of fan-favorite characters and combined aspects from the original game and the rebooted timeline, it did not feature Johnny Cage. Fortunately, Mortal Kombats cast will include the stunt actor-turned-hero, with Karl Urban playing the iconic Earthrealm champion.

It was easy to predict that Johnny Cage was going to...

Mortal Kombat 2 introduces the key game character Kitana, hinting at a deeper exploration of the otherworldly realm Outworld. A new behind the scenes image teases Kitana's arrival with a closer look at her signature weapon. Fans should pay attention to Kitana's role in the sequel, as her character will bring complexity to the story.

A new image from Mortal Kombat 2 offers the best glimpse yet at the introduction of a major character from the games. Currently slated for an October 2025 release, filming on the sequel officially wrapped in January this year with several new faces added to the cast. In addition to Karl Urbans introduction as the first generation fighter Johnny Cage, Mortal Kombat 2s impressive character roster also includes Jade (Tati Gabrielle), Kitana (Adeline Rudolph), Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), Queen Sindel (Ana Thu Nguyen), King Jerrod (Desmond Chiam), Quan Chi (Damon Herriman), and Baraka (Cj. Bloomfield).

Taking to Twitter/X,...

Conan the Barbarian will soon enough get the chance to once again crush his enemies and hear the lamentations of their women, as the character – as depicted by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1982 movie – will be part of an upcoming Dlc pack in Mortal Kombat 1. He will be joined by Scream’s Ghostface and Terminator 2: Judgment Day’s T-1000. Sorry, still no John Wick…

The Khaos Reigns expansion pack, which is set to debut on September 24th, is part of tradition in bringing non-Mortal Kombat characters into that universe. Notably, the first Dlc Kombat Pack for Mortal Kombat 1 featured Homelander from The Boys, Peacemaker from the titular show and Omni-Man from Invincible. The Khaos Reigns pack will also feature Cyrax, Sektor and Noob Saibot. Both Cyrax and Sektor debuted with 1995’s Mortal Kombat 3, while Noob Saibot was a hidden character in 1993’s Mortal Kombat II.

Conan, Ghostface...

2003. It’s an era of action movies where we’re living in a post-Matrix, post-Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon world. Those films’ major success and notoriety prompted Hollywood to try bringing Kung Fu wire work to more of their action films. Meanwhile, two of the biggest names in the genre – Jackie Chan and Jet Li – were attempting to expand their brand into the American market — with films that many of their fans considered to be watered-down versions of their previous works. Around the same time, Doug Liman debuted a newer visceral style of action in his film, The Bourne Identity, which would make its own mark on action films to come. However, somewhat hidden in all that activity was a budding star in Thailand who had taken his amazing physical skills and called back to some of the classic, acrobatic action that defined Hong Kong’s most beloved period of martial arts movies.

Let’s dream the crow black dream. I’m Niki Minter and this week on the Eric Draven files, we have The Crow: Stairway to Heaven. This is the first time we have a series that I feel lukewarm about. However, this is one that does have its fans and there’s a reason, aside from the upcoming reimagining, that we’re discussing it. This should be a fun time.

Okay, so, I caught Stairway on the Sci-Fi channel a few times here and there during its initial run. It caught my interest but never enough to start it from the beginning. What’s interesting about this is that it’s based on the 1994 movie adaptation which was pulled from James O’Barr’s original comic. Mark Dacascos would be the one and only person ever to fill the role once held by Brandon Lee. This is an interesting take, right?...

Scottish actor and marital artist Ray Park began his film career as a stunt double for actors Robin Shou and James Remar in the 1997 video game adaptation "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation." He played some other characters too, although only in a background capacity; his face could not be seen. 1999 saw Park's career explode, however, as he played the demonic Darth Maul in George Lucas' supra-blockbuster "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace." At the time, critics were mixed on "The Phantom Menace," but many "Star Wars" fanboys agreed that Darth Maul was really, really cool. He didn't speak much — and when he did, he was voiced by Peter Serafinowicz — but his double-sided lightsaber, black cloak, stoic demeanor, and striking facial markings made Maul one of the most memorable parts of an otherwise forgettable film.

Later in 1999, Park also served as the body/fight double for the Headless Horseman in Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow,...

Quan Chi makes his live-action debut in Mortal Kombat 2 after being absent from the franchise's previous films. Quan Chi's arrival adds a fresh vibe and mythical element to the sequel, setting him up as a powerful new antagonist. The addition of Quan Chi promises to deepen Mortal Kombat 2's lore and raise the stakes for Earthrealm in the upcoming sequel.

A classic character is set to make their live-action debut in Mortal Kombat 2, adding plenty of excitement to the sequel. After releasing two live-action films in the 1990s, Mortal Kombat disappeared from cinemas for over two decades, but the 2021 reboot proved the gaming adaptation still had plenty of life on the big screen. Although 2021's Mortal Kombat reboot still faced some problems, it showed that there is potential for the fighting franchise to work in live-action. The reboot's story was only the tip of the iceberg when...

Mortal Kombat (2021) broke tradition by making Cole Young, an original character, the chosen one, not Liu Kang. Liu Kang can hopefully reclaim his role as the saga's ultimate hero in Mortal Kombat 2. Mortal Kombat 2 should balance character screen time better than the previous film, giving Liu Kang and others their due.

Mortal Kombat (2021) broke a 29-year-old franchise tradition regarding Liu Kang that only Mortal Kombat 2 can restore. As the first theatrical Mortal Kombat movie since 1997s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, the 2021 reboot had the difficult mission of reigniting the live-action side of the franchise. Between the violence and the special effects, Mortal Kombat (2021) accurately portrayed the visuals and the tone of the Mk games. That said, Mortal Kombat had flaws, including sidelining important characters like Scorpion and Liu Kang.

The cast of Mortal Kombat 2 is even bigger than that of the first movie, which makes sense considering...

Mortal Kombat 2 must be better than the 2021 reboot to succeed. Recent video game adaptations set a high bar for Mortal Kombat 2. Mortal Kombat 2 needs to stay faithful to the games while delivering a strong, cohesive story.

Mortal Kombat 2 needs to be better than its predecessors, but the challenge of adapting Mortal Kombat to the big screen just got way more difficult. The cast of Mortal Kombat 2 indicates that the upcoming sequel will be even closer to the source material in terms of characters and locations. Several Mortal Kombat characters from the video games have been confirmed for the sequel, including fan favorites that were missing from the first film such as Johnny Cage. Not much is known about Mortal Kombat 2s story, but the film is expected to fix the 2021 reboots mistakes.

Mortal Kombat (2021) had issues, such as the lack of Scorpion and the complete absence of Johnny Cage.

Johnny Cage's absence in the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie was a surprising story decision explained by the producers. Karl Urban will portray Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2, aiming to rectify the absence of the iconic character in the franchise. Mortal Kombat 2 is expected to see Johnny Cage joining the Earthrealm champions to prepare for the tournament, tapping into his powers.

Johnny Cage didn't appear in 2021's Mortal Kombat reboot movie, and here's why the character was surprisingly absent from the film. Johnny Cage is one of Mortal Kombat's most iconic characters, with him often being held up as the protagonist of the video game franchise. Because of this, it was shocking that the character wasn't in the first film of the new movie series at all, as he seems important to establishing the franchise in live-action. However, there is a reason that Johnny Cage wasn't in the film,...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Knuckles.

Knuckles, a successful video game TV show, maintains the tone of the Sonic movies with its funny, heartwarming adventure. Fallout & Knuckles continue a positive shift in video game adaptations on TV by bringing beloved game properties to life. Recent shows like Castlevania and Arcane demonstrate that multiple formats and genres can successfully adapt video game universes.

Paramount+s Knuckles, which brings the titular character and some of his lore to the small screen, is the latest example of a solid video game TV show that raises the bar for future adaptations. Similarly to the Sonic the Hedgehog movies, Knuckles combines elements from the games with original characters created for the live-action franchise. While the lack of established Sonic characters and locations in the limited series can be disappointing at first, Knuckles succeeds in keeping the same tone from the films with a funny,...

Chances are, if you were even remotely interested in basketball and video games in the ‘90s, there was a strong likelihood that you played NBA Jam. Starting out in the arcades in April 1993, the game was ported to the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis before kickstarting an entire sports game franchise in itself. Over 30 years later, NBA Jam still holds up, with its fast-paced and frenetic, two-on-two basketball match-ups featuring many of the biggest names of the era.

With plenty of in-game secrets, axed content, and behind-the-scenes tales from its development, there is plenty about NBA Jam that even its biggest fans might not be aware of. Here are all the biggest secrets and fun facts about the iconic basketball video game series.

The NBA Nearly Refused Licensing for the Game

By the early ‘90s, the arcade scene in America, particularly in many of its major cities, took on a...

Mortal Kombat's gory legacy is evident in films like Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, with bone-crunching fights and gruesome transformations. The R-rated Mortal Kombat movie showcases bloodier battles, like Scorpion Vs Sub-Zero, with creative weapon use and detailed deaths. Animated Mortal Kombat films like Scorpion's Revenge deliver raw violence, depicting Scorpion's blood-soaked rampage against Lin Kuei warriors.

The Mortal Kombat series is known far and wide for its controversial gore-soaked presentation, and the fights depicted in various films have explored this bloody legacy to varying degrees. Ever since the first Mortal Kombat fighting game hit arcades in 1992, the franchise has become infamous for its incredibly brutal finishing moves and violent presentation. Having come a long way since the pixelated blood of the 90s, the realistic animation of modern games in the Mortal Kombat franchise has made its fights more visceral than ever.

That being said, the films based on the Mortal Kombat...

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At a Glance: The Best Retro Video Game Devices

Editor’S Pick: Nintendo Nes Classic Edition Best Arcade Cabinet: Arcade1Up Best For Old School Games: Atari 2600+ Best For ’90s Kids: Nintendo Snes Classic Edition Best For Sega Fans: Sega Genesis Mini Best Sega Alternative: Sega Genesis Mini 2 Best For Sony Fans: Sony Playstation Classic In This Article

What Are the Best Retro Video Game Devices?

Buying Guide:...

Mortal Kombat (2021) is a great adaptation closer to the source material compared to the 1995 version, but not a great film. Video game adaptations need to succeed as both good movies/shows & adaptations. Mortal Kombat 2 might bring the definitive live-action movie the franchise still needs.

The 2021 Mortal Kombat reboot proved one harsh truth about video game adaptations that can help explain why there have not been a lot of great movies and TV shows in that genre. Video game adaptations have proven to be one of the trickiest genres in Hollywood, although the current landscape of movies and shows based on game IPs is much more promising than it was a few years ago. Well-received titles like HBO’s The Last of Us and Netflix’s Arcane have shown that there are plenty of different ways to successfully adapt a video game world to a different media.

The Mortal Kombat...

Quan Chi, a significant character in the Mortal Kombat universe, will make his live-action debut in Mortal Kombat 2 after being removed from Annihilation. Quan Chi first appeared in an animated series. Quan Chi's role in Mortal Kombat 2 could involve resurrecting dead characters and manipulating the warriors.

Quan Chi will be in Mortal Kombat 2, which is paying off a 27-year-old tease from the worst Mortal Kombat movie. There have been three live-action, theatrical Mortal Kombat films, one of which is much worse than the other two. There has yet to be a theatrical Mk movie that succeeds both as an adaptation and as a film, although the 2021 reboot came close to delivering it. Assuming the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 improves upon its predecessor, it could easily be the best movie in the franchise.

The animated Mortal Kombat movies have so far been the best examples of how to...

Mortal Kombat 2 will feature fan-favorite Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban, promising an entertaining and comedic performance. Bi-Han's transformation into Noob Saibot will be explored, giving fans a long-awaited live-action adaptation of this beloved storyline. Quan Chi's presence offers a chance for redemption after the underwhelming portrayal of Shang Tsung, potentially adding depth and intrigue to the storyline of Mortal Kombat 2.

From the details that have already been released about Mortal Kombat 2, the nascent film franchise based off the fighting game of the same name seems to be committed to improving. Mortal Kombat in 2021 was a bit of a shaky start for a revival of Mortal Kombat's film presence, which hadn't seen a full live-action entry since 1997's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. While the reboot of the series got some things right, such as its well-choreographed fight scenes and R rating, landing it on the higher end of the Mortal Kombat films,...

Mortal Kombat 2 will introduce new characters, expanding on the lore from the video games and exciting fans of the original games. The sequel won't have to spend time introducing Earthrealm's champions, allowing for more focus on the main story and thrilling fight sequences. Mortal Kombat 2 shows that it knows what didn't work in the 2021 reboot, addressing criticisms of a lack of characters and aiming for a less convoluted narrative.

News regarding Mortal Kombat 2 is finally starting to come out, and the sequel already sounds so much better than the 2021 reboot. Mortal Kombat 2021 launched the most recent live-action Mortal Kombat movie franchise, with it attempting to set up a saga that consists of multiple movies, with each one set to introduce even more characters and lore from the Mortal Kombat video games. While the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie was a success, it did have some problems, but Mortal Kombat 2...

The inclusion of Quan Chi and the Netherrealm in the sequel suggests that Noob Saibot will have a proper live-action introduction and Scorpion's origin story will be explored. Sub-Zero died at the end of Mortal Kombat (2021), which doesn't mean he can't return in the sequel. Quan Chi in Mk 2 allows the sequel to explore more of the saga's lore.

A famous character from the Mortal Kombat lore will be in Mortal Kombat 2, and this addition all but confirms that Noob Saibot will appear in the sequel as well. Although Mortal Kombat (2021) made some puzzling decisions regarding characters and storylines, it was much better than 1997's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and did well enough to get a sequel greenlight Now, the Mortal Kombat 2 set images offer enough clues to theorize where the sequel is going, and how important characters from the first movie may return.

Known for its intense violence and gore,...

Karl Urban will play Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2, and some set photos reveal a first look at his version of the character. Other new characters, such as Baraka, have been teased through behind-the-scenes pictures as well. Mortal Kombat 2 may focus a lot on Johnny Cage, as indicated by the production logo and his association with the color green.

Several official Mortal Kombat 2 set photos and behind-the-scenes pictures help predict where the sequel is going, which characters will be featured, and how much of the Mk games’ lore will be brought into the movie. Mortal Kombat 2’s release date has not been confirmed yet, but the movie’s production is constantly receiving updates on social media through posts from actors and producers. The list of Mortal Kombat 2 characters is quite large, and there are a lot of storylines from the games the sequel can explore.

Mortal Kombat 2 will introduce the characters Shao Kahn and Kitana, and their arrival has been teased in new set photos. Shao Kahn previously conquered Kitana's realm and raised her to become his personal assassin. Mortal Kombat 2 has the potential to provide a more faithful representation of the characters compared to previous adaptations.

A pair of new photos from the set of Mortal Kombat 2 has teased the arrival of two of the franchise’s biggest characters. Based on the hit video game series, Mortal Kombat 2 serves as the follow-up to the 2021 reboot that starred Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, and Josh Lawson as a group of Earthrealm warriors targeted by the sorcerer Shang Tsung before they can compete in the titular interdimensional martial arts contest. While the first movie introduced several key characters from the video games, Mortal Kombat 2 is also set to feature characters such as Johnny Cage,...

Mortal Kombat 2 has the opportunity to rectify the missing elements from its predecessor, including characters like Onaga and Kitana, Mileena, and Jade, as well as the rivalry between Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Shang Tsung. The movie producers have left hints and clues in the first Mortal Kombat movie, inspiring hope that the sequel will address the shortcomings of the first film and deliver a more faithful adaptation of the video game franchise. The inclusion of Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban, and the appearance of the Netherrealm in Mortal Kombat 2 suggest exciting battles, the exploration of characters' backstories, and the potential for an actual Mortal Kombat tournament to determine the fate of humanity.

With Mortal Kombat 2 on the way, the sequel has the opportunity to include several of the characters, locations, and game mechanics missing from its predecessor. Based on the video game franchise of the same name,...

So, Mortal Kombat took the fighting game by storm, and made it a worthy opponent to Capcom’s Street Fighter II. The obvious question after that is: How do you follow up that success? The obvious answer came in November 1993 with Mortal Kombat II. Was it more of the same? Not quite. Building upon the framework of the original game, Mkii honed what made the original game so great, added more Kombatants, more Fatalities, more secrets, and in general just gave fans more of what they craved in pixelated blood.

Mortal Kombat II picks up after the events of the previous tournament, where Shaolin warrior Liu Kang had defeated both the reigning Mortal Kombat champion Goro and the shapeshifting sorcerer Shang Tsung. Shang is brought before his master, Shao Kahn, the supreme ruler of Outworld, begging Kahn to spare his life. Shao Kahn relents after hearing Shang Tsung’s new...

Johnny Cage's return in Mortal Kombat 2 marks his first appearance since the disastrous Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, making it a pivotal moment for the character. Johnny Cage, a beloved and popular character in the franchise, will have a larger role in the upcoming sequel than he did in the original Mortal Kombat movie, showcasing his significance. The decision to kill off Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation was heavily criticized, but Mortal Kombat 2 plans to rectify this mistake by making him one of the leads, played by Karl Urban.

Johnny Cage's role in Mortal Kombat 2 is poised to flip the opening scene of Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, a film widely considered to be the worst in the franchise. The return of Johnny Cage in the upcoming sequel marks his first appearance in the movie franchise since his brief appearance in 1997's disastrous Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. While he didn't appear in the 2021 reboot,...

Mortal Kombat director Simon McQuoid is back at the helm for the sequel Mortal Kombat 2, which started filming at the end of June… then had to shut down production when the Screen Actors Guild strike hit a couple weeks later. That strike came to an end last week, and it was rumored that Mortal Kombat 2 would go back into production in early 2024. When producer Todd Garner saw that rumor, he tweeted, “This is not true. We are filming before then…” Way before then, as it turns out. Garner and cast member Karl Urban have both confirmed that Mortal Kombat 2 is already filming again!

Urban confirmed by sharing a picture that shows him hanging out with some of his castmates. You can check it out at the bottom of this article.

The screenplay for Mortal Kombat II has been written by Jeremy Slater, who was the lead writer...

Pat E. Johnson, a longtime stuntman who was the fight choreographer for and played a referee in the Karate Kid movies and appeared in the martial arts classic Enter the Dragon and in Chuck Norris films, has died. He was 84.

His wife, Susan, posted on social media that he died Sunday but did not provide details.

“For those that don’t know, my husband, Pat Johnson, passed away yesterday,” Sue Johnson posted on Facebook. “I was blessed to have all my sons here with me – we cried, we laughed, we held each other close. 54 years off my life is now at peace, and I am blessed with so many amazing memories, friends, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. If anyone wants to remember him through a donation in his name, we believe greatly in the Diabetes association or living Kidney association – both near and dear to our hearts. Thank you to...

Mortal Kombat 2 will feature Johnny Cage, correcting a 26-year-long movie mistake and finally bringing the beloved character to the forefront. The 2021 reboot of Mortal Kombat, while successful in many ways, missed the mark by introducing an original character, Cole Young, as the protagonist, instead of utilizing existing fan-favorite characters. Warner Bros. is taking Johnny Cage's return seriously in Mortal Kombat 2 by casting acclaimed actor Karl Urban, known for his rugged and stoic roles, to bring both fierce action and comedic elements to the character. This implies that Cage will have a significant role in the sequel.

Mortal Kombat 2 will introduce Johnny Cage into the rebooted franchise, and his starring role and Karl Urban's casting will put an end to a 26-year-long movie mistake. Released in 2021, Mortal Kombat was a reboot of the video game movie franchise that totally delivered on almost every level. The film followed the...

Mortal Kombat movie franchise has stayed true to the popular video games and brought the flair of Hong Kong action movies to the big screen. The Karate Kid franchise has been a modern culture phenomenon, with its story of the master-student relationship resonating with audiences. The Ip Man franchise, led by Donnie Yen, has become the greatest martial arts movie franchise of all time, blending epic fight scenes with the life story of a martial arts master.

Both East and the West have produced long lists of martial arts movie franchises, some of which being significantly better than their contemporaries. Like any other genre, the storytelling of martial arts films can often be encapsulated very well in just one movie, as seen in Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury, the John Carpenter's '80s classic Big Trouble in Little China, or Iko Uwais' debut movie Merantau. However, the popularity...

We’ve talked about Stephen King as the king of horror literature, but there’s another name who is pretty important in the grand scheme of horror. He has had tabletop games, video games, comic book adaptations, and movies made after his work. He has sort of become like John Carpenter in a way. You hear all the time how a movie, or its score in particular, is Carpenter-esque and that has happened to one Howard Phillips Lovecraft. He only lived to 46 and had many works published after his death, but also is the man behind the old gods and the Cthulhu mythos. Even when filmmakers and game designers don’t use creations directly from the author’s work, a lot of horror can be considered Lovecraftian. While some of the more famous ones like Re-Animator and From Beyond are stone cold classics, I wanted to look at an underseen adaptation.

By all accounts, Ed Boon is just a regular guy. Chicago-raised, he loves shlocky Eighties action flicks and the music of Prince. Like everyone else, he’s racing to catch up on Succession but it’s tough to fit into his busy work schedule. His work just happens to be leading development for the latest installment of Mortal Kombat, one of the most influential game series of all time – not just for its impact on gaming, but for its three decades worth of symbiosis with our culture.

Developed in 1991 before its initial 1992 arcade release,...

Mortal Kombat is a prolific fighting franchise. Despite the upcoming game’s Mortal Kombat 1 title, it is actually the twelfth mainline game in the series, and that number doesn’t account for the various spinoffs and countless upgrades. Then you have all the comics, movies, TV shows, web shows, techno albums, and other stuff that grew out of the series. From Liu Kang fighting a stop-motion Goro in a dingy dungeon to seeing him reinvent the entire universe, Mortal Kombat has seen some stellar highs and embarrassing lows.

What I’m saying is, Mortal Kombat is…a lot. So, as we prepare for Liu Kang and Shang Tsung’s war over the rebooted Earthrealm, let’s talk about some lesser-known parts of the franchise that you might not know about.

15. The Johnny Cage/Guile Connection

Do you know how Bill Murray and Lorenzo Music have both portrayed Peter Venkman and Garfield?...

After that trip down memory lane yesterday with the new Mortal Kombat 1 trailer, WB Games and NetherRealm have released a new behind-the-scenes video featuring Dave Bautista playing the game ahead of its September 19th release.

“Obviously, my voice is gone now from screaming ‘Mortal Kombat’ all day,” says Bautista during the gameplay session. “But I love this because it directly connects me to my past. So it’s more personal and feels more gratifying.”

Bautista elaborates, saying that growing up, his favourite character was Liu Kang because of Kang’s bicycle kick, and because he was able to morph into a dragon for his famous Mortal Kombat II fatality. “I like Scorpion now because I just want to hear him say ‘Get over here!’ (laughs).”

While Bautista isn’t in Mortal Kombat 1, longtime fans of the series will finally see Jean-Claude Van Damme as a skin for Johnny Cage. For...

The mockbuster industry is a fascinating entity. Chief among the studios that specialize in mockbusters (ie. low-budget knockoffs of popular studio titles) is The Asylum, the company behind the "Sharkando" films. In 2023 alone, The Asylum has released a riff on "Cocaine Bear" titled "Attack of the Meth Gator," the latest installment in its "Transformers" ripoff franchise, "Transmorphers: Mech Beasts," and its own animated version of "The Little Mermaid" featuring the voices of Steve Guttenberg and "E.T." star Dee Wallace. And they say cinema is dead!

Shane Van Dyke, the grandson of acting legend Dick Van Dyke, got his start as a writer on the mockbuster circuit, penning films like "Titanic II," "Paranormal Entity," and "Transmorphers: Fall of Man" for The Asylum in the late aughts. Around that same time, he also teamed up with his brother, Carey Van Dyke, to co-pen the studio's "Street Racer" -- a riff on the "Fast & Furious" films,...

Mortal Kombat 2’s tournament result is easy to predict, especially if Mortal Kombat 3 is being considered. Mortal Kombat (2021) reignited the Mortal Kombat movie franchise 24 years after the Mortal Kombat: Annihilation disaster. The Mortal Kombat reboot was arguably more faithful to the games than Mortal Kombat (1995) and Annihilation, although the 2021 movie did make some significant changes to the source material. The exclusion of Jonny Cage from Raiden’s first lineup of champions; the addition of the original character Cole Young, and the absence of an actual Mortal Kombat tournament are some examples.

Mortal Kombat 2 is already fixing some of the biggest Mortal Kombat (2021) criticism. For example, the list of new Mortal Kombat 2 characters includes Johnny Cage, who will be playing Karl Urban in the upcoming Mortal Kombat sequel. With many heroes and villains joining Mortal Kombat 2, the sequel has all the tools to deliver the tournament the first movie skipped.

At least eight more characters from the iconic fighting game franchise are slated to appear in Mortal Kombat 2. The video game franchise is full of unique, violent, supernatural, and amusing characters, who all fight in the Mortal Kombat tournament to defend the home realm; The 2021 video game adaptation featured moret than a handful of classic Mortal Kombat heroes, along with the original character written for the movie, Cole Young.

The 2021 live-action movie was received much better than their predecessors from the 1990s. But, it was lacking one major Mortal Kombat element: the actual Mortal Kombat tournament. However, that'll be avoided in the sequel, with Mortal Kombat 2 properly showcasing the tournament. With the huge number of new characters in the movie franchise and plenty of slots to occupy for the tournaments, there'll undoubtedly be plenty of fatalities. Some of these characters might not last longer than a few minutes in the sequel,...

A couple weeks ago, Mortal Kombat director Simon McQuoid rounded out the cast of the sequel – which is apparently simply titled Mortal Kombat II. Last weekend, we saw a picture of several cast members in a restaurant together. And now Ludi Lin (who plays Liu Kang in these new films) took to Instagram to reveal that filming has officially started! He shared pictures of a clapperboard and his salad, and those can be seen at the bottom of this article.

The screenplay for Mortal Kombat II has been written by Jeremy Slater, who was the lead writer on the Marvel / Disney+ series Moon Knight. Last year, Slater said that working on the project had been “really fun so far. … I’m working really closely with the director and the studios, and the game guys, and I think—I can’t say anything about the actual story, but I think they...

With so many horrible sequels available, picking the ten worst sequels of all time was challenging. Indeed, there have been numerous instances where sequels have fallen far short of their original counterparts, making them infamous examples of ‘how not to do a sequel.’

Thankfully, viewers on IMDb did most of the work for us, sharing their valuable insights and ratings, which we’ve used to compile this list.

What follows is a painstakingly curated breakdown of each terrible sequel. We delve into what specifically made these follow-ups lackluster and disappointing. Some of these sequels found their unfortunate place on this list despite being birthed from incredibly successful and well-received franchises.

They had every ingredient for success – a captive audience, proven characters, and established lore, yet they managed to fumble. Conversely, others continued on an already rocky path of subpar predecessor films, cementing their series as characterized by chronic cinematic failure.

More casting news has come out of the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2, with another major character from the video game series announced to be joining the growing line-up. Based on the hit fighting games first developed in the early 1990s, Mortal Kombat follows warriors from Earthrealm as they battle in a tournament to protect the world from the shadowy forces of Outworld. First adapted to screen in 1995’s Mortal Kombat and its 1997 sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, the series was later rebooted in 2021 under the direction of Simon McQuoid, who is also set to helm the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2.

Now The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star Adeline Rudolph is set to join the cast as Princess Kitana. This latest piece of casting news follows on from revelations that Rudolph’s former co-star Tati Gabrielle has been tapped to play the role of Jade, Kitana’s bodyguard and lifelong friend.