Logo text
In the fall of 2021, just weeks after Mortal Kombat opened in theaters, director Simon McQuoid created a document examining what the movie did right, what it could have done better, and what he wanted in a sequel. Among his dream characters: Baraka, the sharp-toothed mutant from the games.
The character is now among the highlights of Mortal Kombat II, which has grossed $65 million globally since its May 8 launch. Baraka’s fight with Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) is one of the movie’s centerpieces, bringing humor to the proceedings, and he also returns for the film’s coda.
Making it all happen took months of planning. McQuoid struggled to find the right actor to play the role — someone with the imposing size but who could also nail Baraka’s mix of humor, violence and sweetness.
“I’m looking at all these different tapes and everyone’s just playing it [straight]. It just doesn’t feel otherworldly. The longer we went, I’m thinking, ‘It’s gonna be really hard,’” says McQuoid.
