Mortal Kombat II (2026) - The scoop and digest

Before diving in, I have an interesting side story to tell.

The Asylum's mockbuster Immortal Combat¹ shares the same title of another film from 1994 (released in the UK as Resort to Kill).  Fairly obviously, American title rips off Mortal Kombat (1992), but the irony extends further, because Deron McBee (Muller) would play Motaro in MK Annihilation (1997).

Oh, the fourth episode of MK: Conquest (1998-1999) is Immortal Kombat.

WTF?

¹Possibly coincidence, but the idea of actual historical figures competing in a fighting tournament has been done before in cult Neo Geo fighting series World Heroes (1992-1995), which also features Joan of Arc and Genghis Khan (as Janne D'Arc and Julius Carn respectively).

There is no knowledge that is not power.

Anyway, Simon McQuoid returns to helm sequel, but instead of Greg Russo and Dave Callaham, screenplay is written by Jeremy Slater.

Karl Urban - Johnny Cage

Adeline Rudolph - Princess Kitana

Jessica McNamee - Sonya Blade

Josh Lawson - Kano

Ludi Lin - Liu Kang

Mehcad Brooks - Jax Briggs

Tati Gabrielle - Jade

Damon Herriman² - Quan Chi

Martyn Ford - Shao Kahn

Tadanobu Asano - Lord Raiden

Joe Taslim - Bi-Han/Noob Saibot

Lewis Tan - Cole Young

Hiroyuki Sanada - Hanzo Hattori/Scorpion

Chin Han - Shang Tsung

Max Huang - Kung Lao

CJ Bloomfield - Baraka

Desmond Chiam - King Jerrod

Ana Thu Nguyen - Queen Sindel

²Previously the voice of Kabal.

Summary

In Edenia, Emperor Shao Kahn kills Kitana's father King Jerrod in Mortal Kombat and unofficially adopts young lassie.

Rules: If one realm wins 10 tournaments in a row, it will be given dominion over the other.

20 years later, ahead of the final tournament, Kahn orders necromancer Quan Chi (who debuted in 1996 animated series MK: Defenders of the Realm) to revive Kano and Kung Lao.

On Earth, Lord Raiden and Sonya Blade tells washed up actor Johnny Cage that he's been selected as their fifth champion.

Despite calling bullshit, he soon warms to unenviable task.

Quan Chi takes Shinnok's amulet from Kano and steals Raiden's power for trinket, making Kahn immortal.

The fight to save Earth begins.

Flame represents fire

Does this kick original's ass?

Fuck yeah.

Despite an over-reliance on green screen (especially in Netherrealm) and Baraka looking stupid, I still had a blast.

Gory fights are a huge step up and humour often lands, with Kano calling Quan Chi a 'big bleached dildo'.

Ha ha ha.

Kahn kills Cole and Jax, and Liu Kang uses Kung Lao's hat to gruesome effect.

Fatality.

Cage likens Raiden's 'cosplay' to Big Trouble in Little China (1986).  For those blissfully unaware, Raiden was based on Lightning, while Lo-Pan inspired Shang Tsung.

After the amulet is destroyed, Kitana ends Kahn's legacy of pain of cruelty.

Trust me, he's not her biggest fan.

Some time later, Cage, Sonya etc prepare to use Quan Chi to bring peeps back.

There isn't a post-credits scene, but a new version of Techno Syndrome is definitely worth sticking around for.

I'll leave you with these words of infinite wisdom.

May the screams of your enemies echo in your dreams.