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Mortal Kombat II will have strong Bloodsport vibes as they go all-in to revive the martial arts tournaments we love from classic movies
If you've been thirsting to see some bloodsport, Mortal Kombat 2 has got you covered
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There's a reason why so many martial arts films feature martial arts tournaments. Just like in real life, they're ridiculously compelling to watch, especially when there are a variety of martial arts represented in the contestants. Just throw in a jaunty soundtrack and consider our attention snatched.
This is exactly the kind of spirit that Mortal Kombat II screenwriter Jeremy Slater is looking to bring into the upcoming film. In an interview with ComicBook, Slater explained that he was "adamant" that Mortal Kombat 2 have a tournament scene because there has been "years of build-up" since the first film came out in 2021.
Slater said, "A lot of kung-fu movies and martial-arts tournament movies, a lot of it is sitting around waiting. Then, there’s a big fight scene and then you go back to sitting around waiting. It’s killing time between stages and I was very cognizant of that, that we need to be telling a story on the margins where there is just as much exciting stuff happening outside of the tournament as inside of the tournament, so you are never bored and both of these stories are moving the movie forward."
Hopefully we'll get something of a Bloodsport vibe in Mortal Kombat II, where we'll get to see characters' reactions to the fights happening in front of them. Maybe I'm a bit weird, but I've enjoyed seeing characters size each other up from the sidelines, sometimes more than the fights themselves. It's all part of the suspense, seeing characters' gears turning inside their heads before they can throw any punches or kicks.
Mortal Kombat 2 will be out October 24, 2025
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