Mortal Kombat. Photo: The Global Coverage

The new 'Mortal Kombat' movie has been delayed one more week

Mortal Kombat was scheduled to hit theaters in January, but Warner Bros. plan to present its 2021 slate in theaters and on HBO Max at the same time pushed its release back to April. Now, with just hours to go before Godzilla vs. Kong starts streaming on HBO Max, the studio has shuffled the Mortal Kombat date once again, and plans to release it on April 23rd.

According to Variety and Deadline, adding a few more days between major releases could stop them from taking ticket sales away from each other in areas where theaters are open, while Disney's decision to slightly delay Black Widow made it easier to delay Mortal Kombat. That's seven more days we'll have to wait to find out if this one can live up to the first film from 1995, not to mention the series of games it's based on, according to finance.yahoo.

'Mortal Kombat' Cast and Plot

The movie is set to follow a mixed martial arts fighter named Cole Young as he’s hunted down by Sub-Zero of the Lin-Kuei clan of assassins. In a bid to protect himself, he seeks out a group of fighters who were chosen to defend Earthrealm against the forces of Outworld.

The cast has been finalized for the 2021 release. Tadanobu Asano will be playing Raiden, Mehcad Brooks as Jackson Briggs, Elissa Caldwell as Nitara, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Max Huang as Kung Lao, Josh Lawson as Kano, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Sisi Stringer as Mileena and Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero. Additionally, Lewis Tan and Matilda Kimber will appear in undisclosed roles, as cited by popculturetimes.

'Mortal Kombat' Trailer

When and how to watch

Mortal Kombat has been a long time coming -- the first two films came out in the 1990s, but after the second one was such a bomb, the third film went into limbo. This reboot comes out nearly a quarter of a century after that disaster.

Theatrical releases are still iffy in early 2021 thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but Warner Bros. is still hoping some moviegoers will be able to watch all the action on the big screen. Mortal Kombat is scheduled for release in theaters and on the HBO Max streaming service on April 23 after getting pushed back a week from April 16.

Everything on Warner Bros.' 2021 slate of new movies, in fact, will be available on HBO Max at no added cost to subscribers -- in other words, feels like free. But HBO Max doesn't have a free trial, so you'll either need to sign up with a paying membership (currently $15 a month) or upgrade an existing HBO subscription to include Max.

In fact, you might already have access to HBO Max and not even know it. If you currently subscribe to HBO via your cable or satellite provider, you can probably get HBO Max without paying anything extra. We explain it in detail here, but essentially, you'll need to watch on a smart TV or streaming device -- or a Comcast Xfinity box -- using the HBO Max app and your home internet connection.

Also, after months of delay, Roku is finally giving its streaming devices and TVs access to HBO Max. Roku users who already use the HBO app will automatically update to HBO Max, said Cnet.

4 Mortal Kombat Facts

Photo: Insta Chronicles

Liu Kang And Kung Lao's Trainer Weaponized Farts And Puke

Liu Kang and Kung Lao are two of Mortal Kombat's main protagonists, and while on the surface they look like generic kung fu fighters with a completely normal background, that all goes out the door when you learn about their master Bo' Rai Cho. This character, who was formally introduced as their master in the game Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, has gained notoriety in Outworld for his ability to weaponize his farts and vomit.

It's about as gross and nonsensical as it sounds, but like it or not, this Mortal Kombat character is canon. I'll be honest I don't think he's the type of character we'll be seeing in the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie, though I'd be tickled pink to see a fighter who routinely farts in the midst of battle absolutely blowing people out as blood and guts spill everywhere. At least we got Liu Kang, and Kung Lao out of it, who I'm guessing can keep their digestion in check when the going gets tough.

There Is More Than One Sub-Zero

A hardcore fan of Mortal Kombat may know this, but a more casual fan could go their entire life without knowing that there are canonically two Sub-Zero characters in the universe. The first one, Bi-Han, was a combatant in the first Mortal Kombat but was killed by Scorpion. His brother, Kuai Liang, is also a Cryomancer and took up the mantle in honor of his brother, hoping to ultimately gain vengeance against Scorpion.

Here's where it gets a bit weirder, Bi-Han (OG Sub Zero) was resurrected in the Mortal Kombat universe but did not become Sub-Zero. Instead, he's known as Noob Saibot, which was originally a joke character whose name backward is that of the franchise creator, Tobias "Ed" Boon. Interestingly enough, the upcoming Mortal Kombat movie will feature Bi-Han as Sub-Zero, so it's worth watching to see where he ends up by the time the movie ends.

Mortal Kombat Is Largely Responsible For Video Game Rating Systems

Mortal Kombat's legacy in the world of video games is unparalleled, especially when considering the franchise influenced the way video games are rated across the board. Concerns about the game and its gratuitous violence inevitably led to the creation of the Electronic Software Rating Board (ESRB), which is a board that determines what video games will receive a rating. Ultimately, the rating is used as a quick way of making parents aware of all the things a game contains to let them decide whether it is right for their child.

With a reputation like that, there was a bit of irony in the fact that the 1995 movie was rated PG-13 to attract younger audiences. The decision-making and argument are sound, though the fact that Mortal Kombat led to a system that kept parents from unwittingly buying their children ultra-violent content immediately led to criticism from critics and audiences alike. as cited by cinemablend.

The Voice Of Scorpion Is Mortal Kombat's Creator

Ed Boon isn't just the mastermind behind Mortal Kombat, he's also the voice of one of its most iconic characters. Scorpion's "Get over here" is one of the most iconic lines of the franchise, perhaps second only to "Finish him."

Boon has voiced Scorpion throughout the course of the franchise, including the movies. With that said, it has not been said that Boon will be helping voice the character in the new Mortal Kombat, which may explain why the voice sounded slightly off in the trailer. I would be interested to know what role Boon had in the new movie and how the movie will fare without that iconic voice along for the ride.

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