Mortal Kombat (2021 film)

***Mortal Kombat*** is a 2021 martial arts fantasy film based on the video game franchise of the same name and a reboot of the *Mortal Kombat* film series. Produced by New Line Cinema, Atomic Monster Productions, NetherRealm Studios, and Broken Road Productions, and distributed by Warner Bros Pictures, the film stars Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Chin Han, Max Huang, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada. It is directed by Simon McQuoid in his feature directorial debut, from a screenplay by Greg Russo and Dave Callaham and a story by Russo and Oren Uziel. The film follows Cole Young, a washed-up mixed martial arts fighter who is unaware of his hidden lineage or why the assassin Sub-Zero is hunting him down. Concerned for the safety of his family, he seeks out a clique of fighters that were chosen to defend Earthrealm against Outworld.

Following the critical and commercial failure of the 1997 film *Mortal Kombat: Annihilation*, a third *Mortal Kombat* film languished in development hell for a period of nearly two decades. In late 2010, Warner Bros Pictures and New Line Cinema began developing a new film, with Kevin Tancharoen serving as director from a script written by Uziel in the wake of their *Mortal Kombat: Rebirth* short film. James Wan was announced as a producer in August 2015 and McQuoid was hired as director in November 2016. Production took place at Adelaide Studios in Adelaide and at other locations in South Australia. Principal photography occurred from September to December of 2019.

*Mortal Kombat* was released on DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray in the United Kingdom and Ireland on July 5, 2021 by Warner Bros Home Entertainment, and in the United States and Canada on July 13, 2021 by Studio Distribution Services (the home media distribution joint venture between Warner Bros Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment).

## Images

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## Storyline

### Plot

MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan), accustomed to taking a beating for money, is unaware of his heritage or why Outworld's Emperor Shang Tsung (Chin Han) has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt Cole down. Fearing for his family's safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee) at the direction of Jax (Mehcad Brooks), a Special Forces Major who bears the same strange dragon marking Cole was born with. Soon, he finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano), an Elder God and the protector of Earthrealm, who grants sanctuary to those who bear the mark. Here, Cole trains with experienced warriors Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), Kung Lao (Max Huang) and rogue mercenary Kano (Josh Lawson), as he prepares to stand with Earth's greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe. But will Cole be pushed hard enough to unlock his arcana-the immense power from within his soul-in time to save not only his family but to stop Outworld once and for all?

### Genres

* Action
* Adventure
* Fantasy
* Sci-Fi
* Thriller

### Home Media Rating

* **18A** (Canada)
* **15** (Ireland)
* **15** (UK)
* **R** (US)

## Details

### Home Media Release Dates

* July 5, 2021 (UK) (DVD / Blu-Ray / 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray)
* July 5, 2021 (Ireland) (DVD / Blu-Ray / 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray)
* July 13, 2021 (Canada) (DVD / Blu-Ray / 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray)
* July 13, 2021 (US) (DVD / Blu-Ray / 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray)

## Company Credits

### Production Companies

* Warner Bros Pictures
* New Line Cinema
* Atomic Monster Productions
* NetherRealm Studios
* Broken Road Productions

### Distributors

* Warner Bros Home Entertainment (2021) (UK) (DVD / Blu-Ray / 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray)
* Warner Bros Home Entertainment (2021) (Ireland) (DVD / Blu-Ray / 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray)
* Studio Distribution Services (2021) (Canada) (DVD / Blu-Ray / 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray)
* Studio Distribution Services (2021) (US) (DVD / Blu-Ray / 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray)

## Trivia

* This is the first live-action *Mortal Kombat* film to be rated R by the MPA, whereas the other two live-action *Mortal Kombat* films from the 1990s, *Mortal Kombat* (1995) and *Mortal Kombat: Annihilation* (1997), were both rated PG-13.
* This is the first film to feature the 2021 Warner Bros Pictures/New Line Cinema transition logo, albeit using a custom variant for the film. The normal version of that logo was first used on *Those Who Wish Me Dead* (2021).