We learned a lot about the plot of the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie from last week's Entertainment Weekly preview, but now Warner Brothers has laid the basic premise out with an official synopsis. Read on for the full press release:

Original character Cole Young (Lewis Tan) will indeed be at the center of a story that sees him sharing a dragon-like birthmark with Jax (Mehcad Brooks), who sends him on a path to the Mortal Kombat tournament. Cole must learn to unlock his "arcana" -- the soul power of his heritage -- to thwart Outworld Emperor Shang Tsung (Chin Han), and save his family and Earthrealm.

The plot appears to reveal significant changes to established game canon, including the roles of characters, and the invention of arcane birthmarks in a sub-plot reminiscent of the last cinematic adaptation - Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Read the full press release below: Update: Writer Greg Russo has offered corrections to mistakes contained within the press release.

From New Line Cinema comes the explosive new cinematic adventure “Mortal Kombat,” inspired by the blockbuster video game franchise, which most recently enjoyed the most successful video game launch in its history, Mortal Kombat 11. The film is helmed by award-winning Australian commercial filmmaker Simon McQuoid, marking his feature directorial debut, and produced by James Wan (“The Conjuring” universe films, “Aquaman,”), Todd Garner (“Into the Storm,” “Tag”), McQuoid and E. Bennett Walsh (“Men in Black: International,” “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”).

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?

The diverse international cast reflects the global nature of the brand, with talent spanning the worlds of film, television and martial arts. The ensemble includes Lewis Tan (“Deadpool 2,” Netflix’s “Wu Assassins”) as Cole Young; Jessica McNamee (“The Meg”) as Sonya Blade; Josh Lawson (“Bombshell”) as Kano; Tadanobu Asano (“Midway”) as Lord Raiden; Mehcad Brooks (TV’s “Supergirl”) as Jackson “Jax” Bridges; Ludi Lin (“Aquaman”) as Liu Kang; with Chin Han (“Skyscraper”) as Shang Tsung; Joe Taslim (“Star Trek Beyond”) as Bi-Han and Sub-Zero; and Hiroyuki Sanada (“Skyscraper”) as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion. Also featured are Max Huang as Kung Lao; Sisi Stringer as Mileena; Matilda Kimber as Emily Young; and Laura Brent as Allison Young.

McQuoid directed from a screenplay by Greg Russo and Dave Callaham (“Wonder Woman 1984”), from a story by Oren Uziel (“Mortal Kombat: Rebirth”) and Russo, based on the videogame created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Michael Clear, Jeremy Stein and Larry Kasanoff served as executive producers.

Bringing the hugely popular property to the big screen, McQuoid led a team of Australian and U.S. filmmakers, including director of photography Germain McMicking (“True Detective,” “Top of the Lake: China Girl”), production designer Naaman Marshall (“Underwater,” “Servant”), editors Dan Lebental (“Spider-Man: Far From Home”) and Scott Gray (“Top of the Lake,” “Daffodils”), visual effect supervisor Chris Godfrey (“Hacksaw Ridge”) and costume designer Cappi Ireland (“Lion,” “The Rover”). The music is by Benjamin Wallfisch (“Blade Runner 2049,” the “IT” films).

New Line Cinema Presents an Atomic Monster/Broken Road Production, “Mortal Kombat.” The film is set for release nationwide on April 16, 2021 in theaters and will be available in the U.S. on HBO Max for 31 days from theatrical release. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Witness the first video footage released from the film in the HBO Max promo trailer and catch-up on more first-look photos to see more of the cast.

Mortal Kombat will debut simultaneously in limited theatrical release and streaming to HBO Max in the United States on April 16th. Subscribe to the release countdown for reminders and check out the Media & Merchandise forum to share your thoughts on every development from the movie!

The first preview of the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie reboot has given us extensive plot details and images to ponder. A trailer is yet to surface -- but the latest promotion for HBO Max has offered an appetizer, providing the first video footage released from the feature film! Watch closely:

Most prominently featured is a close-up of Sub-Zero crafting a weapon from ice. The frosty 1 second clip gives full motion to the previously released photo of Joe Taslim as Bi-Han, revealing more of a metallic mask behind the icy sword.

Another blade snaps resonantly just prior to Sub-Zero's appearance, as if challenging the Lin Kuei warrior in a manner we might expect of a ninja arch-nemesis, although we cannot yet be certain of the wielder's identity. The only clues are a brassy metallic wrist guard and spiky projections at the shoulder.

Pay close attention to the montage of action, moviestars, and expositional text and be rewarded with an even fresher perspective. Director Simon McQuoid told Entertainment Weekly he wanted "the dirt to come through", and the barren Australian landscape is indeed well represented at the moment the advert announces "NEW MOVIES".

Although the quartet of kombatants has their backs turned to us, we can surmise from their attire and stature that this is likely Kano, Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, and Cole Young gazing into the great yonder.

Preview photos have thus far eschewed Kano's trademark cybernetic face plate. The director says this isn't a "shiny" movie. Instead, Australian comedy actor Josh Lawson is furnished with three jagged scars pointing towards an eyeball that reflects a suspiciously red retina. Another preview photo offered something more familiar: Jessica McNamee pinning Lawson in dirt that looks very similar to what we see in the video.

Kano will apparently be training at Raiden's temple when Lewis Tan's new journeyman Cole Young arrives under Sonya Blade's direction. There we will also see Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, which may in some way provide context for the unlikely gathering in the image included above.

[Related Article: Neo Was Nearly The One For Mortal Kombat]

Warner Brothers has a full slate of feature films debuting simultaneously in limited theatrical release, and streaming directly via the HBO Max service. Various genre pictures can be seen teased, including DC's The Suicide Squad and a fourth Matrix film. Appropriate enough, given Keanu Reeves' Neo was considered for a guest spot in the 2011 Mortal Kombat video game.

Mortal Kombat is scheduled to officialy premiere theatrically & streaming on April 16th. Are you looking forward to it? Subscribe to the release countdown and share your thoughts about the video teaser in the comments below! Discover more by diving into the Media & Merchandise forum!

Fans have been granted their first look at the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie in an exclusive feature article from Entertainment Weekly. Now you can further digest what you've seen with unmarked photos -- including new images of the Shaolin Monks and controversial Cole Young! Look:

One of the new images appears to show Lewis Tan working to lock an armbar on an anonymous cage fighter in a dingy arena. EW confirmed Tan will play a fallen mixed martial arts champion, Cole Young, fulfilling widely circulated rumors of a featured character exploring a hidden past.

A dragon-like birthmark will take Cole Turner to the Mortal Kombat tournament, where he'll encounter traditional icons from the popular video games, including its Shaolin Monks protagonists. The birthmark isn't visible in any of the photos, making it difficult to know if it ties into a previously seen alternative logo.

The new preview photo [below] shows our second glimpse of Liu Kang and Kung Lao. This will be the first time Kung Lao and his iconic bladed-hat will appear in a feature film, although Mark Dacascos previously played a live-action version of the character in Mortal Kombat: Legacy Series II.

The full body shot of actors Ludi Lin and Max Huang show promising reflections of the video game characters, revealing more of their iconic red costume highlights. Liu Kang's hands glow with dragon flame, suggesting the martial arts mysticism of the games will be represented.

Additional photographs released via the official movie Twitter include repeats from the EW article, sans watermark. Narrow images of Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), Jax (Mehcad Brooks), and Kano (Josh Lawson) imply letterboxed stills from the movie. Larger images include Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee) and Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada).

Mortal Kombat will be released theatrically and streaming to HBO Max on April 16th. Share your thoughts about the new stills in the comments below and discover more from the movie in the Media & Merchandise forum.

Entertainment Weekly has at long last given fans the first glimpse of the upcoming live-action Mortal Kombat feature film reboot. An in-depth article is part of their 2021 cinematic preview series, which includes many juicy details and first-look photos. Read on for more:

In Entertainment Weekly's article fans will find an expected blend of familiar video game canon and the type of adaptation tropes we've seen in other recent spin-off versions of the franchise, such as Scorpion's Revenge and Mortal Kombat: Legacy.

Completely new to the franchise will be Cole Young: an already notorious character to be played by Lewis Tan, who is described by the actor as "kind of a washed-up MMA fighter who used to be a champion".

True to widely circulated rumors, the tape-fisted fighter does indeed appear to be down on his luck. Also true to expectation: he appears to be an entry character for penetrating established lore, which he may have a hidden connection to per a mysterious dragon-like birthmark. Tan elaborates, "... along the journey of Mortal Kombat and Cole discovering where he comes from, you're introduced to all these other iconic characters and elements that everybody loves so dearly."

Cole knows nothing of his heritage aside from the mysterious birthmark on his chest — in the shape of the Mortal Kombat symbol. Tan remains mum on how this birthmark connects to the character's origins but agrees "it's a unique symbol" that "will eventually tie into the journey that he's going on." It remains the only clue Cole has when the sinister sorcerer and emperor of the realm Outerworld, Shang Tsung (Skyscraper's Chin Han), sends Sub-Zero, now with his cryomancy powers, to hunt him down.

Cole will apparently connect with many of Mortal Kombat's iconic fighters as he passes from Jax (Mehcad Brooks), to Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee), and "Elder God" Lord Raiden (Tadanabou Asano), who offers sanctuary at a temple where Kano (Josh Lawson), Liu Kang (Ludi Lin), and Kung Lao (Max Huang) will be training for the tournament. A photo of the Shaolin Monks displays two of the more exciting live-action creations.

As it was in Legacy; the iconic rivalry between Scorpion and Sub-Zero is transposed from recent history to the distant past of feudal era Japan hundreds of years ago. Their battle will apparently dominate the opening of the film, which reportedly dedicates 10 minutes to a violent struggle between Joe Taslim's Bi-Han and Hiroyuki Sanada's kunai-gardening family man, Hanzo Hasashi.

Director Simon McQuoid waxes philosophical in the article about the implications of blood in the series, citing its inspiration beyond the mere stains splattered at the feet of fighters. He describes blood's importance to identity and connection, which no doubt underscores the family tragedy that famously befalls Hasashi, described as "leader of a ninja clan".

McQuoid also explains the aesthetic of the film, which seems very apparent in photos supplied by Warner Bros, particularly in the photo of Joe Taslim attacking Sanada [included below]. "It's not a shiny film… I wanted the dirt and the grime to come through." This rings true in understated costume design and a muted colour palette.

Mysterious tattoos -- or a birthmark, in Cole Young's case -- that provide passage to Raiden's temple may recall Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, but the director reiterates the filmmakers' intent to pay homage and respect to the series' famed lore: "I wanted to make sure that everyone respected the material, the lore of Mortal Kombat, the fans and the love they have for this. Everyone was clear on it"

Key to this homage of series "lore" is also the fatalities the game is known for. McQuoid introduces EW's readers to the prospect of brutal R rated violence -- something we've heard consistently throughout production: "We had a lot of discussions about getting the balance right so there was gore and there was blood and there were fatalities."

Mortal Kombat will debut in theatres and streaming to HBO Max on April 16th. A trailer is expected soon. Share your first impressions with us in the comments below and follow more from the movie in the Media & Merchandise forum!

Television actor John Reilly has passed away at the age of 84. Best remembered for his recurring role on General Hospital, he was also a featured star in the movie-length Mortal Kombat: Conquest pilot in the late nineties.

Variety reported the actor's passing via his daughter and TikTok personality, Caitlin Reilly, who shared a touching message to her late father via Instagram. No cause of death has been stated.

Reilly was a familiar face on American television from the mid 1970s. He made single appearances on live-action genre programmes like Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk, before landing the role of investigator Sean Donely on the soap opera General Hospital in 1984.

In 1998 he appeared as Baron Reyland in the opening two-part story "Warrior Eternal", which also aired as a single feature-length presentation in some markets.

Reyland is the volatile father of Kung Lao's forbidden love interest, and the catalyst that brings together the series' three disparate heroes as a Baron of Zhuzin. His trading post becomes the main setting of the series after he is inadvertently killed by Takeda: a guard possessed with the spirit of Scorpion.

Baron Reyland has no direct equivalent in the world of the Mortal Kombat video game series, but John Reilly did reprise his role as a vision created by Shang Tsung and Quan Chi in the memorable Conquest episode Unholy Alliance.

Mortal Kombat Online is very sad to learn of the actor's passing. Fans of Reilly's work are welcome to share their thoughts in the comments below. Special acknowledgement to user Lone_Wolf_Productions_NY for bringing this story to our attention.