‘Mortal Kombat II’ Just Dropped the Liu Kang vs. Kung Lao Clip Fans Have Been Waiting For

With the sequel arriving in theaters in less than a week, the promotional machine behind ‘Mortal Kombat II‘ is firing on all cylinders, and a newly released clip may have just given audiences a preview of the film’s most emotionally charged fight. The footage features a battle between Liu Kang, played by Ludi Lin, and Kung Lao, played by Max Huang, though there is a crucial difference from the last time these two appeared on screen together.

Kung Lao died in the first film, but now he is back and sporting an even deadlier edge. The fight that plays out is one full of parries and evasions, a direct reflection of how well the two characters know each other’s fighting styles. It is the kind of choreography that only makes sense when the fighters involved share a history, and these two have one that stretches across an entire film.

What gives this confrontation its emotional weight is rooted in the events of the first movie. Shang Tsung pulled Kung Lao into his grasp and began siphoning his soul, with Liu Kang arriving too late to save him. Now, Kung Lao has been corrupted and is acting under that dark influence, forcing his closest ally into a fight neither of them should be having.

Ludi Lin has spoken candidly about what it was like working with Max Huang, noting in an interview with Geek Culture that most of his scenes in the first film were alongside him, and praising Huang as an amazing martial artist who has led Jackie Chan’s stunt team for over 15 years. That real-world chemistry between two performers with genuine martial arts backgrounds translates visibly in the clip, which feels grounded even as it builds toward more spectacular displays of power.

The sequel is directed once again by Simon McQuoid, with Jeremy Slater writing the screenplay. Filming took place in Australia beginning in June 2023, was paused during the SAG-AFTRA strike, and ultimately wrapped in late January 2024. The story picks up with Earthrealm’s champions, now joined by Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage, as they face down the rule of Shao Kahn, played by Martyn Ford, whose grip on Outworld threatens to consume everything beyond its borders.

The film was originally scheduled for an earlier release but was hit with a significant delay, and will now arrive in theaters on May 8. It is releasing across premium formats including IMAX, and the marketing campaign has leaned heavily into fan service, with dedicated posters for IMAX, 4DX, and ScreenX formats. Given that the Liu Kang and Kung Lao dynamic was one of the most beloved elements of the original, the timing of this clip feels deliberate, designed to land an emotional punch just before opening weekend.

There is even more of the battle that does not make it into the clip, which only adds to the anticipation around what could end up being the best fight in the entire film. For a franchise that has always lived or died on the quality of its action, that is a bold promise and, based on what has been shown, one that may actually be earned.