UPDATE (8/26/19):
Jessica McNamee has been cast as Sonya Blade and Josh Lawson is set to play Kano in Mortal Kombat, according to Bloody Disgusting.
Come 2021, it’s time to once again engage in Mortal Kombat on the big screen!
New Line Cinema is bringing back a new live-action adaptation of the Midway video game after a successful movie in 1995 only to be followed by an abysmal sequel in 1997. The 1995 film would become the Hollywood breakout for Hong Kong action star Robin Shou as the heroic Liu Kang.
The new film is going to be in good hands with James Wan (Saw, The Conjuring) producing and music video director Simon McQuoid set to direct from a script by Greg Russo. What can we expect for the new Mortal Kombat film? Here’s a breakdown.
1. Mortal Kombat will be rated R and expect Fatalities (Finally!)
Screenwriter Greg Russo has confirmed a long standing rumor that the new film will be rated R and the film will feature the one thing the video games will be forever known for…it will have the deadly art of the “fatality”. Here are Russo’s exact words:
“I’m gonna put this one to bed. [The Mortal Kombat movie] WILL be R-Rated and for the first time EVER, FATALITIES will FINALLY be on the big screen.”
2. Joe Taslim is the first official cast member.
After it was rumored that the producers wanted Australian actor Joel Edgerton (Warrior) to play the role of Kano, the first official cast member was announced. Indonesian action star Joe Taslim (The Raid: Redemption, The Night Comes for Us) signed on to play the Lin Kuei warrior Sub-Zero, whose known for his ninja garb and powers of using ice.
3. Meet your new Liu Kang.
Chinese-Canadian actor Ludi Lin has been cast in the role of Liu Kang. Lin is best known for his role of Zack, the Black Ranger in the 2017 reboot of Saban’s Power Rangers film and recently played Murk, an army leader, in the Warner Bros./DC film Aquaman. With skills in martial arts, Lin could make a great fit for the role.
4. Meet you new Raiden.
In 1995, Christopher Lambert played the God of Thunder, no not Thor, but Lord Raiden. He was replaced by James Remar in the 1997 sequel Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. For the new film, Raiden will be played by Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano, best known for his appearances in Takashi Miike‘s Ichi the Killer and as Asgardian warrior Hogun in the Thor films.
5. From Supergirl to Mortal Kombat
One of the more interesting castings was the character of soldier Jackson “Jax” Briggs, who is given metal arms to inflict more damage. Lynn Red Williams played the character in the 1997 Annihilation film and then played by Michael Jai White in the Conquest web series. At one point, Terry Crews was interested in the role. However, playing Jax will be Mehcad Brooks, who played a rebooted Jimmy Olsen on CW’s Supergirl series before leaving after season 5.
6. Mileena is being played by a newcomer.
Australian newcomer Sisi Stringer will play the warrior Mileena in the new film. Taekwondo champion Dana Hee played the role in a brief fight in the 1997 sequel Annihilation. Stringer is relatively new as she has one other film, Bloody Hell, that’s currently in post-production.
There will be more updates that will be added to this post as we get them. Look out for Mortal Kombat on March 5, 2021 from New Line Cinema. “Finish Him!”
WorldFilmGeek 