Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic making theatrical film releases a much less viable option these days, Warner Bros. announced that the upcomingMortal Kombatreboot will be coming to HBO Max in 2021 on the same day as the theatrical release. The newest adaptation of the popular video game series will also be joined on the streaming service by the studio’s entire slate of films originally intended to have been released in 2021. With the landscape being what it is these days, this is a big move that Warner Bros. is assuredly hoping pays off for them in the long run.
The decision arrives on the heels of Warner Bros.’ theatrical push forChristopher Nolan’sTenetnot paying the dividendsthat the studio had initially anticipated. It seems as though they are taking a much different approach with their upcoming lineup and taking into account that most people do not yet feel safe venturing out to sit in a theater as we all did before the pandemic and social distancing became the norm that had been forced upon us. The first instance that Warner Bros. had played with this format was with the announcement thatWonder Woman 1984would be streaming on HBO Max on the same that it releases in theaters on Christmas Day.
This would be the first time thatMortal Kombathas seen a theatrical adaptation after the abysmal sequelMortal Kombat: Annihilationput the franchise into development hell for decades. There was also the prequel short filmMortal Kombat: Rebirthand a subsequent web seriesMortal Kombat: Legacyboth from director Kevin Tancharoen in the years since, but nothing on the scale of another big Hollywood blockbuster. And with talent likeAquamandirector andSawcreator James Wan serving as a producer on the film as well as a major driving force behind it finally getting off the ground, it’s sure to be theR-rated adaptationthat we’ve been hoping to see for many years.
Mortal Kombatwas set for a January 15th, 2021 release date but was just delayed last month to an undetermined new date. Now with a simultaneous theatrical and HBO Max release taking place on that upcoming day.
