Warner Bros. has pushed the simultaneous theatrical and HBO Max release of their upcoming video game adaptation Mortal Kombat back by one week to April 23.
With the move coming on the eve of Godzilla vs. Kong's domestic debut, it's believed that the studio wanted to give their MonsterVerse epic some extra breathing room to maximize its potential box office earnings as more capacity restrictions are expected to be lifted in the coming weeks. The Adam Wingard-directed film has already grossed over $121 million globally and is expected to set another pandemic-era record with a $30M-plus launch over these next five days.
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Another major factor was Disney recently deciding to push Marvel's Black Widow to July, allowing Mortal Kombat to also take advantage of that early May release window as no major tentpole is scheduled to release until Paramount's A Quiet Place Part II opens on May 28.
While the plot shouldn't deviate too much from the games as the heroes of Earthrealm gather to fight the demons of Netherrealm in an attempt to protect the universe from absolute annihilation, there will be one major addition. The film will introduce a brand new protagonist in Cole Young (Lewis Tan), who will prove to be vital in the heroes' quest and will also seemingly have a mysterious connection to the legendary Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada).
The film stars Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, Mehcad Brooks as Jackson "Jax" Briggs, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han/Sub-Zero, Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion, Max Huang as Kung Lao, Sisi Stringer as Mileena, Matilda Kimber as Emily Young, Laura Brent as Alison Young, Elissa Cadwell as Nitara, and Daniel Nelson as Kabal.
In “Mortal Kombat,” MMA fighter Cole Young, accustomed to taking a beating for money, is unaware of his heritage—or why Outworld's Emperor Shang Tsung has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero, an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt Cole down. Fearing for his family's safety, Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade at the direction of Jax, 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, 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, Kung Lao and rogue mercenary Kano, 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?
Mortal Kombat arrives in theaters and on HBO Max on April 23