Adaptation of the hit martial arts video game Mortal Kombat 2 has officially secured a release date for HBO Max, giving fans the chance to watch all the action on demand at home.
The blockbuster fantasy sequel is set to hit the streaming platform on Friday, July 24, following a highly successful theatrical release that saw the film gross a whopping $129 million at the global box office.
The streaming release marks the return of director Simon McQuoid, who took a step back behind the camera after making his directorial debut with the first installment in 2021.
This action-packed second chapter follows iconic martial arts actor Johnny Cage, who finds himself recruited by the god of thunder Raiden and military officer Sonya Blade.
Cage is drawn to unite with his fellow Earthrealm champions for an intense, interdimensional tournament against the hostile warriors of Outworld.
Together, Earth’s chosen fighters must join forces to stop the tyrannical Emperor Shao Kahn, receiving a much-needed boost from the deadly Edenian Princess Kitana.
While the original film managed to bring many of the franchise’s legendary fighters to the big screen, the sequel introduces a new batch of fan-favorite characters.
The headliner of the new arrivals is The boys actor Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, alongside Adeline Rudolph as Kitana and Tati Gabrielle as Jade, Kitana’s close childhood friend.
Outworld’s villainous ranks are bolstered by Damon Herriman as the dark wizard Quan Chi, Martyn Ford as the evil Emperor Shao Kahn, Ana Thu Nguyen as Kitana’s mother Queen Sindel, Desmond Chiam as King Jerrod, and CJ Bloomfield as the fanged fighter Baraka.
Fans of the first film can also expect to see many familiar faces back in the arena.
The returning cast includes Lewis Tan as original main protagonist Cole Young, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, and Ludi Lin as karate master Liu Kang.
They are joined by Mehcad Brooks, who returns as Jackson “Jax” Briggs with his super-strong bionic arms, and Josh Lawson as deadly Australian killer Kano.
Rounding out the cast of returning favorites are Chin Han as the evil sorcerer Shang Tsung, Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, Hiroyuki Sanada as the legendary Scorpion, Joe Taslim as his nemesis Sub-Zero, and Max Huang as the razor-sharp hat-wearing Kung Lao.
