Mortal Kombat is a pretty massive video game franchise, one which has already spawned a variety of film adaptations. While they’ve all been something of a mixed bag, it’s this latest upcoming installment that has fans excited. There’s a lot of potential for a Mortal Kombat reboot, especially when you consider the possibilities of the video game franchise making its way to the big screen for modern audiences. Now actor Lewis Tan has gave fans another reason to be excited. According to Tan, the Mortal Kombat reboot will do justice to one of the video game franchise’s signature elements – fatalities.
Here’s what Lewis Tan specifically stated regarding the Mortal Kombat fatalities while speaking with ComicBook:
“Let me just say this, there were some days on set that I felt sick. I’m not kidding.” Tan added, “They did not… They did not hold back.”
It makes sense that he’d feel sick, because as it turns out, most of the fatalities featured in the movie were brought to life via practical effects. Apparently there wasn’t much need for CGI onset. Here’s how writer Greg Russo explained the situation:
“I can say for sure that the fatalities that we’re gonna put into the film are from the game. We’re not going to come up with some new things that we haven’t seen before, but at the same time, if we’re going to do it to use that device, we want to make sure that it’s not just in there just to be in there and have that point to the story,” Russo explained. “So everything will always have that point to what’s happening in the story, that it will feel awesome and badass, but it’s going to play a role, you know, it’s not just going to be there just to be showy.”
He also added:
“In terms of the content, yeah. I mean we’re … I think there’s always a thin line, you know, you don’t want to be over the top, right? With your violence and I don’t know that that’s really going to put people off. I’m not sure that’s even necessary. So you want to be truthful, but you also don’t want to be so ridiculous and gratuitous that you may turn people off in the wrong way. So I would just say that it’s going to be faithful to the games and it’s going to earn it’s R-rating.”
The film’s cast includes Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Chin Han as Shang Tsun, Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, stuntwoman Elissa Cadwell as Nitara, and Sisi Stringer as Mileena. Lewis Tan (Wu Assassins) is playing a currently unknown leading character.
The film will be produced by James Wan and Todd Garner. Larry Kasanoff, E. Bennett Walsh, Michael Clear, and Sean Robins are attached as executive producers. Simon McQuoid will be directing the Mortal Kombat film.
As of right now, there haven’t been any release date changes. So audiences can expect the film to hit theaters on January 15, 2021.