Choose your fighter: Queensland beats out South Australia for Mortal Kombat sequel

A sequel to the 2021 film adaptation of videogame series Mortal Kombat will be shot in Queensland, with the state nabbing the blockbuster from South Australia where the initial reboot was created.

New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures have selected Queensland to film Mortal Kombat 2, written by Jeremy Slater and helmed by Australian director Simon McQuoid who directed the 2021 version of Mortal Kombat.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the production was lured by the state government via its Production Attraction Strategy.

“With an estimated local spend of more than $68 million, Mortal Kombat 2 is a heavy hitter for the state’s economy, creating at least 560 jobs for Queensland cast and crew,” Palaszczuk said.

“My government’s support for the state’s screen industry continues to pay dividends, with Mortal Kombat 2 the latest in a long line of high-profile films to be made here. 

“Queensland has firmly established itself as a leading global production hub, suited to all productions from Hollywood blockbusters right through to homegrown stories.”

The film will be produced by James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Todd Garner’s Broken Road Productions, with the former noting he was proud to bring the filming of the sequel back to Australia.

“Filming the first film in Australia was such a great experience, I’m thrilled that with the help of Screen Australia and Screen Queensland we can show off the majestic locations of Queensland and work with the top-notch artistic talent based there,” Wan said.

Garner said Queensland was proving to be a ‘premier destination’ for filmmaking.

“On behalf of New Line, Warner Bros., our filmmakers and entire cast and crew, we are proud to be returning to Australia and now, specifically Queensland,” Garner said.

“The state is proving to be a premier destination for filmmaking with state-of-the-art production facilities, stunning locations, and a highly skilled local workforce, making it the perfect location for this film.  

“We are grateful to Screen Queensland, the Queensland Government and Screen Australia’s support of this production, via the Federal Government producer offset, and look forward to bringing the iconic Mortal Kombat universe back to life on the Gold Coast.”  

The reboot of Mortal Kombat was panned by critics on its release in 2021, receiving a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 54 per cent based on 294 reviews, but scored a positive audience rating of 84 per cent.

The 2021 version was filmed in South Australia, and on its announcement former Premier Steven Marshall said the production would create an estimated 580 jobs and contribute $70 million to the local economy.

The film managed to generate $9.31 million at the domestic box office in 2021, beating out other Australian films from that year including Penguin Bloom ($7.48 million) and High Ground ($2.97 million).