The Mortal Kombat reboot movie has been picking up a lot of steam lately which is great. With more and more details and casts announced including getting an R rating or 15 here in the UK.
Produced by horror specialist and Aquaman director James Wan. As you probably know Mortal Kombat already has 2 movies, a web series, and a TV show. Non really caught the essence of the games although the Paul WS Anderson original movie did it some justice but it was ruined with the terrible sequel Annihilation.
The movie has literally just started filiming in Australia. Screen play writer Greg Russo recently tweeted a picture with a message “May the Elder Gods watch over us” with the hash tag “It Has Begun” in reference to the first Mortal Kombat movie. I’ve seen a lot of reports of who’s been signed up to play this character and that character. They are flying out thick and fast. Chin Han (Ghost in the Shell, The Dark Knight) and Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai) have been cast as Shang Tsung and Scorpion. We have Ludi Lin (Power Rangers) as Liu Kang, Josh Lawson as Kano and Tadanobu Asano (Thor) as Raiden.
But the ones I’m most excited about is Joe Taslim (The Raid, The Night Comes for Us) as Sub Zero and Lewis Tan (Wu Assassins, Into the Badlands) in a yet undisclosed role. I’m Guessing Kung Lao. Lewis Tan has also posted a photo on Instagram marking the movie has started shooting. 
For those who don’t know, each character has the own specific story and reasons for being in the tournament but the original overall story was Outworld rule by Shao Kahn was trying to take over earth realm. The elder gods would only allow them to do this by winning mortal Kombat’s tournaments. They had to win 10 in a row before they could take over. The had already won 9. So, thunder god Raiden recruited earths greatest warriors to fight in the tournament. Liu Kang being the main guy of course and Shang Tsung being the main bad guy he had to beat.
The original Mortal Kombat movie stayed somewhat faithful to the games. It showed Raiden recruiting earth warriors, Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, and Sony Blade to fight in the mortal Kombat tournament. Fighting on the side of Shang Tsung was Kano, Sub Zero, Scorpion, Reptile and even Goro portrayed in an awesome animatronics suit. It also featured Kitana who helped our heroes out.
The Sequel Mortal Kombat Annihilation continued directly on from the events at the end of the first movie. With only Robin Shou and Talisa Soto reprising their roles as Liu Kang and Kitana. Shao Kahn invades earth realm even though outworld lost the tournament and now the earth warriors have to defeat him. Lui Kang and Sonya Blade is joined by Jax and a now mortal Raiden. More characters make an appearance such as Ermac, Jade, Sheeva, Sindel, Kitaro and Shao Kahn of course. The whole thing felt like a much lower budget affair this time with sets resembling something out of power rangers.
Then we have Mortal Kombat Conquest the 90’s TV Show. Supposedly set way before the movie. It’ follows the story of Kung Lao played by Paolo Montalban, whether it’s supposed to be the original Kung Lao who was defeated by Goro is anyone’s guess. He is joined by new characters Siro (Daniel Bernhardt) and Taja (Kristanna Loken) There is a different story every week but the overall premise is Shao Khan is trying to take over earth realm. The tournament is already done with by the time the show starts with Kung Lao defeating Shang Tsung. A whole bunch of characters makes an appearance such as Sub Zero, Scorpion, Reptile, Quan Chi, Raiden, Kitana, Mileena and a whole bunch of new ones. The show is quite cheesy but the fights are spectacular.
So far the Mortal Kombat reboot movie has no synopsis or plot details, it’s all very hush but if it’s anything like the Mortal Kombat Rebirth short with Michael Jai White and Matt Mullins, it will be epic. Or if it’s like the awesome web series Mortal Komabt Legacy I’d be happy.
Release date announced as 5 march 2021 but I wouldn’t take much notice of that.
Check below for a list of characters cast so far.
