Last night, producer James Wan took to Instagram to announce the official start of filming for ‘Mortal Kombat 2.‘ The highly anticipated sequel sees Simon McQuoid returning to the director’s chair, with a screenplay penned by Jeremy Slater, known for his work on “The Exorcist” and “Moon Knight.”

The cast lineup for the sequel has also been unveiled, featuring Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, Desmond Chiam as Edenian King Jerrod, Ana Thu Nguyen as Queen Sindel, and Damon Herriman as Netherrealm demon Quan Chi. Interestingly, Herriman previously lent his voice to the character Kabal in the 2021 film.

Joining the franchise are newcomers Karl Urban, who will portray Johnny Cage, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, and Adeline Rudolph as Kitana. These fresh additions to the cast hint at a bigger and bloodier affair, promising thrilling fight sequences and fatal outcomes.

While plot details for the sequel remain scarce, the new cast members indicate an intensified battle packed with fatalities. The 2021 film set the stage with the story of MMA fighter Cole Young, who discovers his hidden heritage and embarks on a journey to protect his family from the sinister Emperor Shang Tsung and his formidable warrior Sub-Zero. Seeking guidance from Sonya Blade and training under the watchful eye of Lord Raiden, Cole joins forces with Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Kano in a high-stakes battle against the enemies of Outworld.

Returning cast members from the previous film include Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han and Sub-Zero, Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion, and Max Huang as Kung Lao.

Produced by James Wan, the first ‘Mortal Kombat’ film achieved global success, grossing $83.6 million at the box office since its release on April 23, 2021. It also garnered significant viewership on HBO Max, with 3.8 million households tuning in during its opening weekend, surpassing all other movies available on the platform.

Fans of the iconic video game franchise can now anticipate an even more thrilling and action-packed sequel with ‘Mortal Kombat 2,’ as production gets underway under the guidance of James Wan.