1995’s ‘Mortal Kombat’.
New Line Cinema’s Mortal Kombat reboot will shoot in Adelaide later this year, with Aussie creatives at the helm in director Simon McQuoid and producer James Wan.
Expected to generate $70 million in expenditure, create 580 jobs and employ 1,500 extras, the actioner based on the popular videogame franchise will be the largest production to ever take place in South Australia.
Pre-production will begin later this month, with the shoot to take place at the Adelaide Studios, with post-production and VFX also to be done in SA. Cast are yet to be announced.
Announcing the production, South Australian premier Steven Marshall said: “Mortal Kombat will be the largest film production in South Australia’s history and highlights the importance of engaging with the world’s major production houses.
“The state government’s investment in Mortal Kombat will enhance the scope and reach of our porudction and post-production capabilities, bringing in the promise of fantastic new jobs for the local film industry.”
McQuoid is a renowned commercials director first attached to the project back in 2016 – it will mark his feature debut. “Having lived in Adelaide early in my career, I am thrilled to be back in South Australia to make my directorial debut with Mortal Kombat. We need many different elements for its success and have found them all right here—the uniquely beautiful landscapes, the outstanding world-class stage facilities and VFX houses, and the brilliant artists and technicians from across the film-making community. I’m grateful to the Premier and people of South Australia for having us, we’re all very excited to be here,” he said.
Producing alongside Saw co-creator and Aquaman director Wan is Todd Garner (Isn’t It Romantic, Tag), and the EPs are Larry Kasanoff (Mortal Kombat [1995], True Lies), E. Bennett Walsh (Men in Black: International, The Amazing Spider-Man 2), Michael Clear (The Nun, Lights Out). The current iteration of the script is by Greg Russo (The Highwaymen). Greg Basser, former Village Roadshow Entertainment Group CEO, is the Australian production consultant.
Wan said: “I’m really happy and excited to be bringing another show back to Australia with Mortal Kombat, especially after having such a great experience filming Aquaman. Now we get to experience South Australia with its scenic locations and a wealth of artistic talent to work with. It will be perfectly suited for this fantasy-action project.”
“We are thrilled to be highlighting South Australian locations, talent and facilities for Mortal Kombat,” said New Line Cinema executive vice president, physical production Katherine Beyda.
“It brings together all of the components we need to make an ambitious action film a success, and we applaud the South Australian Film Corporation [SAFC] for their role in attracting the production to their region.”
SAFC CEO Courtney Gibson said: “Brought to life by Australian creative talent working in partnership with US studios, Mortal Kombat will be a boon for South Australia and a massive shot in the arm for our industry and Adelaide Studios, delivering unprecedented screen spend into the state and a huge number of jobs for South Australians.”
The original Mortal Kombat film was released in 1995, followed by a sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation in 1997.