It's the era of video game adaptations, and even though the brutal and bloody Mortal Kombat franchise isn't a stranger to this treatment, it has also joined the resurgence in the last couple of years. The video game itself was a staple in arcades, relished for its gory graphics and all the creative ways you could kill your fictional opponents using fatalities. It was finally adapted for the screen in the '90s, where two consecutive movies, however novel they may have been at the time, didn't quite surpass the test of mediocrity. But when director Simon McQuoid rebooted it in 2021, the film fared much better, satisfying fans by embodying the true spirit of the games, but still, the fans cried out for more violence.

Now, Mortal Kombat II is slated for a promising premiere in 2026, with fans excited to see the story from the first film evolve while still staying true to the essence of the game. In the sequel, the Earthrealm heroes must go toe-to-toe in bloody battles to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn, brought to life on screen by Martyn Ford. The movie introduces Karl Urban as a Johnny Cage unlike we've seen before, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, and with Joe Taslim returning as Bi-Han, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Lewis Tan as Cole Young, and Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi.

During this year's New York Comic Con, Collider's Perri Nemiroff sat with the team behind the film to talk about how they honor the franchise, including director McQuoid, writer Jeremy Slater, game creator Ed Boon, and cast members Urban, Rudolph, Gabrielle, and Ford. Apart from looking back on how the franchise has evolved, the cast also speaks about how they approached their individual characters and some of the challenges in portraying them. Urban also shares an emotional message on the fifth and final season of The Boys, another popular gorefest of a show that focuses on superpowers.

You can hear all about the process and evolution of the franchise directly from the cast and crew in this Mortal Kombat II interview!

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