Mortal Kombat will notably be one of the blockbuster films that debuts streaming on HBO Max as part of a new COVID conscientious WarnerMedia strategy, but will also enjoy a limited theatrical release in select markets. Fans have already started to see the updated Dragon Logo appearing at cinemas, sharing photos to social media. Take a look:

Writer Greg Russo invited fans to send him snaps of the movie poster, receiving images from @itsBeMoeHoney and @Philwest4151. The photos show posters in Texas and San Francisco.

Mortal Kombat will arrive in theatres and streaming on April 16th. Subscribe to the calendar countdown to receive alerts and join the Media & Merchandise for more discussion! Got something to show us? Share your photos on the forums or on social media @MK_Online, Facebook and Discord!

The Mortal Kombat movie reboot has started to give up some of its secrets, but even with an official synopsis and first-look photos -- there is still much to be discovered from the April release! A behind-the-scenes photo appears to reveal a towering figure manhandling one of the series' klassic fighters. Beware of spoilers all ye who enter:

The photograph has been circulating across social media networks, with the earliest available source a Twitter user named João Henrique. The image shows monitors during the filming a scene that appears to depict Jax in the clutches of a large, hammer-wielding warrior who is purported to be Reiko.

Mehcad Brooks, or a stunt double, can be seen in a suspension harness to allow him to be effortlessly raised by his opponent in a goozle grip. His torso is blue to facilitate special effects, either the addition of something like his metal arms, or perhaps an event that necessitates them. Jax' arms were removed in a similar battle with Goro in the recent animated feature.

The big man is believed to be 6'11" Australian actor Nathan Jones. The former pro wrestler has appeared memorably in movies such as Mad Max: Fury Road and Troy, and has frequently alluded to filming Mortal Kombat in South Australia on his Facebook account.

The actor appears to have a rich, black sliver of hair atop his typically bald noggin, in a fashion that might conceivably be inspired by Reiko's appearance in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.

Adding further credence to the claim that this might be Reiko is a previous script leak, and 2019 set visit by South Australian premier Steven Marshall, which appeared to show character artwork for Reiko, Goro, Reptile, and Kabal pinned in the background of a publicity photo [pictured below]. The scene also seems to match a first-look image released by EW showing Jax pushing against an unidentified fighter's large hammer.

What do you think the behind-the-scenes photo shows? Share your thoughts in the comments below and discover more from the movie in the Media & Merchandise forum!

As the North American branch of the official MK11 Pro Kompetition unfolded last weekend; there was an unexpected interruption to the broadcast event that resulted in the disqualification of player Titaniumtigerzz. Read on for details:

Kotaku brought the story to light, unpacking an abrupt transition in the live HBO Max feed that interrupted a January 16th match between Titaniumtigerzz and Krispifungus.

Befuddled and bemused commentators described the sudden halt in play as a "situation". Whilst seemingly receiving information via headset, announcer Miguel “Darth Arma” Perez noted at the time, "I don't know what we can publicly say". He later ambiguously referenced the rules, encouraging everyone to be "respectful".

Even players were left unclear of what transpired as Krispifungus was defaulted into the next round. Titaniumtigerzz told Kotaku he was later informed in the intervening time by a tournament moderator that the cause for disqualification was a custom variation name: "WhyDidNRSDoThis".

The unknowingly prophetic, tongue-in-cheek variation was assigned to Sheeva: a downloadable Aftermath addition who has drawn criticism from competitive players for an unblockable teleport stomp called the Dragon Drop.

Skilled players can counter the special attack with specific well-timed moves, or a forward dash, but excessive use of the Dragon Drop is considered by many an easy way for Sheeva players to gain a competitive edge.

Despite the noted gameplay issues; MK11 Pro Kompetition organizers have drawn criticism from the playerbase for the handling of Titaniumtigerzz' offending reference. Along with receiving no immediate clear direction after being allowed to initiate play, he was also given no opportunity to alter the name.

The scenario is an inevitable outcome of the recent addition of custom variations to competitive play -- a featured added last November with Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate. The Pro Kompetition has no specific rules preventing this type of knowing meta-textual reference. The decision to disqualify instead falls under the catchall of a code of conduct.

NetherRealm Studios and WB Games have not yet responded to Kotaku at the time of this publication. Mortal Kombat Online has not reached out for comment.

Titaniumtigerzz will play on, telling Kotaku he will not be deterred by the outcome as a competitive player: "I might hate how they do things but at the end of the day it’s their game and I don’t have any other options."

Have your say in the comments below and find more stories to discuss by joining the kommunity in the Mortal Kombat 11 forum. Go deeper into the competitive scene in the Fight Klub forum -- the home of MK Online's live & interactive league now in public beta!

Retro gaming documentary Insert Coin: The Midway Chronicles tells the story of renegade publisher Midway Games in the 1990s from the perspective of those who were actually there. The movie, featuring Mortal Kombat and beyond, can now be yours to own on blu-ray with a special Mortal Kombat Online discount code! Read on:

You can pre-order the Insert Coin Special Edition Blu-Ray right now from the official website link with a an earliybird price of $19.99. Knock a further $5 off when you use the discount code MKONLINE!

The first 100 pre-orders will also receive a collectible Insert Coin logo pin. Blu-Ray discs are expected to begin shipping January 30th. After that the standard price will revert to $24.99 -- so don't delay!

Insert Coin also made its streaming debut late last year on Alamo On Demand, and can now be found for digital purchase or rental on iTunes, >Amazon Prime.

Learn more about the journey to create the documentary in MK Online's interview with director Josh Tsui and watch the trailer right here. Find and discuss more from Midway's arcade era in the 2D Kombat Klassics forum!

The gears of the great promotion machine have begun grinding out details from April's Mortal Kombat cinematic reboot, but apparently some of the information has been in error. Writer Greg Russo has addressed some of fans' concerns about character specifics via social media. Read on for clarifications:

Responding to worries raised by the Entertainment Weekly preview article via Twitter; Russo confirmed that anomalous references to "Outer World", instead of Outworld, were indeed a typing error [by EW]. The EW source article has since been corrected.

He also expanded upon the details of Sub-Zero's present day return in the film, clarifying that his powers of cryomancy will have fully developed when Shang Tsung sends him to attack Cole Young, rather than having been magically granted to him.

In the new film's action-packed opening sequence, Bi-Han will have fought his rival Scorpion hundreds of years in the past, rather than just prior to the MK tournament, as in game canon. The change is reminiscent of the webseries Mortal Kombat: Legacy, which also transposed their battles to feudal Japan.

Composite image showing more of Sub-Zero's mask in the HBO Max trailer.

These typos have apparently persisted within official press material as well. The writer revealed references to Raiden as an "Elder God" and Shang Tsung as "Emperor of Outworld" are both mistakes that don't reflect their status within the movie.

Fans have known Shao Kahn as Emperor of Outworld since Mortal Kombat II. His desire to conquer Earthrealm was the overarching threat of the first three installments of the game series. Shang Tsung appears subservient in all three: as an emissary at the Mortal Kombat tournament, and servant the Emperor thereafter.

Traditionally a hierarchy has also existed separating Mortal Kombat's gods, such as Raiden and Fujin, from typically formless Elder Gods. Raiden briefly ascended to Elder Godhood after MK4, but relinquished his position in its sequel - Deadly Alliance. More recent games have blurred these distinctions with the introduction of playable Elder Goddess Cetrion, and the Titan Kronika.

[Related Article: Mortal Kombat Movie Set References MK11 Fighters]

Speaking to the absence of Johnny Cage in pre-release materials, Russo ambiguously says "[n]o one will be replaced" and "[n]o one has been forgotten". Whether or not this actually confirms the klassic characters' inclusion in the 2021 film remains to be seen.

“...sends Sub-Zero, now with his cryomancy powers FULLY DEVELOPED, to hunt him down.” Fixed it. They should really let me proof these things ;)

— Greg Russo (@WriterRusso) January 17, 2021

Mortal Kombat will tell the story of original character Cole Young as he explores a lost heritage and mysterious dragon birthmark. The movie debuts in limited domestic theatrical release and streaming to HBO Max on April 16th.

Subscribe to the release event to track the countdown to release and dive into the Media & Merchandise forum for more detailed information. Don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments!