Included in the gigantic slate of 2021 films from Warner Bros. that will be released in theaters and streaming on demand via HBO Max simultaneously is the highly-anticipated reboot of the Mortal Kombat franchise.
In the rollout ahead of the film's April 16th premiere, director Simon McQuoid had made it clear that the film will deliver the blood, violence, and fatalities that propelled the brand to the height of pop culture popularity and cemented it's place in the lexicon of gaming culture forever.
The official Red Band trailer has now arrived and it has definitely made good on the promise of stylized violence only adding to the excitement of the film's release.
The latest iteration of the Mortal Kombat saga showcases the battle between Earthrealm heroes Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Jax Briggs and newcomer MMA fighter Cole Young discovering and entering the Mortal Kombat tournament to swore off against the villainous Outworld mercenaries in Shang Tsung, Sub-Zero, Mileena and more of the game's iconic anti-heroes. The first look at the film in the Red Band trailer definitely showcase why the film is rated-R.
The synopsis of the film details, “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,” Warner Bros details.
“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?”
Mortal Kombat arrives in theaters and on HBO Max April 16th. Watch the trailer below.
