Video game movies do not have the best track record. Titles like the legendary Super Mario Bros. and more recent ones like Assassins Creed and the Tomb Raider reboot are good examples of that. When it comes to adapting a popular video game into a movie, it has proven to be a difficult task.
However, there is a light at the end of that tunnel in the shape of Mortal Kombat. Arguably the greatest fighting game of all time is making its way back to the big screen and the hype behind this movie is growing and growing. The cast so far has been a bright spot and is filled with real martial artists, stunt actors, and top-notch fight choreographers.
On November 21st, actor Lewis Tan who has an undisclosed role in the new Mortal Kombat film announced on Twitter that he just finished learning the choreography for the finale and that it’s a “beast on a whole different level.” This tidbit of information is sure to raise expectation levels of the action that we will see when the movie finally gets released.
Who is responsible for the martial arts that will be on display in the film? According to Tan, the choreography is being done by Chan Griffin and Anthony Rinna. Both men are martial artists and have performed stunts for a long time. Their credits include The Wolverine and Thor: Ragnarok and were fight coordinators for Aquaman and Shazam.
Mortal Kombat is a well-rounded fighting game with iconic characters, detailed stage designs and a fun story. But the two most important aspects are the fighting styles and fatalities. Both of which seem to be the focus of the film as writer Greg Russo revealed back in July that it will have an R rating and feature the character’s fatalities. This has left fans imagining things like Sub Zero using his Ice-cutioner on Scorpion after their epic battle all on the big screen of an IMAX theater.
Speaking of Sub Zero, gamers now know he is confirmed along with Scorpion, Jax, Shang Tsung, Sonya Blade, Kung Lao, Kano, Liu Kang, and Raiden. Notable names are missing like Johnny Cage and Shao Kahn, but it is still early in production.
All of this news makes Mortal Kombat probably the most anticipated video game movie ever and if successful, could signal a new dawn for the genre.
Mortal Kombat arrives in theaters on March 5th, 2021.
