New footage from Warner Bros.' upcoming R-rated Mortal Kombat movie sees Sub-Zero showing off his ability to control the frozen elements. Due for release in theaters and on HBO Max on April 16, the video game adaptation directed by Simon McQuoid will reportedly be as bloody and gory as the games. The long-running franchise is known for its brutal fatalities, and the film's stars, which include Lewis Tan (Cole Young), Joe Taslim (Sub-Zero) and Hiroyuki Sanada (Scorpion) have teased that fans will not be disappointed when they watch it.
Footage from the movie has been scarce, with a few snippets and images getting released slowly by the studio. What has been seen teases a combination of classic characters from the games, combined with Tan's new character Cole, who is somehow connected to the universe, having the Mortal Kombat symbol on his chest. The best looks so far have come from HBO Max's promos, which tout the Mortal Kombat's release as part of a larger effort by the studio to drop all of its movies in theaters and on the streaming service on the same day. And that trend has continued today.
The latest HBO Max teaser includes fresh footage from Mortal Kombat, in among all of its other releases for 2021. The first appearance of Mortal Kombat comes 1:09 into the video, features a brief look at some new kinetic fight footage. This is followed by an establishing shot of Sonya Blade and other fighters standing on a hilltop, then finding an invitation to partake in the Mortal Kombat battle for the universe. Finally, at 1:29 in the video, following the Mortal Kombat logo, there is an epic slow-motion shot of Sub-Zero using his powers in a city street. You can see the fresh footage in the video below:
The fresh footage is frustratingly brief, teasing fans with the barest look at the much-anticipated movie. But what is shown is promising. There is no doubt that Warner Bros. didn't skimp on the CGI or fight choreography budget, and the hope is that the popular game series will finally get a movie adaptation worthy of its source material. The 1995 movie, directed by Paul WS Anderson (Resident Evil franchise, Monster Hunter) has attained cult status as a "so bad it's good" movie, but the bloodless action and PG-13 approach of that movie left a lot to be desired. And the less said about 1997's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation the better.
So, fans are desperate to see a faithful adaptation that treats the Mortal Kombat mythology with some respect, while also having some fun with the gory fight scenes. From the small amount that's been revealed so far, it seems as if this version is going some way to finding that balance, and the hope is that a full trailer will reveal more. And with a release date just a few months away, fans will be able to find out just how well the game has been adapted soon.
Source: HBO Max/Twitter
