While the original Mortal Kombat film from 1995 is beloved by fans of the franchise, its 1997 sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, was instantly reviled. Now, Warner Bros. is moving forward with a Mortal Kombat reboot. According to screenwriter Greg Russo, the new film will follow its own template.
While speaking with ComicBook.com, Russo laid out how his movie will be different from previous attempts. Russo has been very vocal about his Mortal Kombat fandom since he landed the writing gig. He shared that he used this as his starting point when crafting the film’s script.
“The mission statement for the new film has always been, we don’t want to repeat what you’ve already seen,” said Russo. “That doesn’t really appeal to anybody, I don’t think. And they already have those films. So at the same time we wanted to tell a new story that’s going to be exciting, but that’s gonna be faithful to the lore and the games that everybody knows and loves.”
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“So the mission statement was really just bring your passion to the project and let’s figure out what the best story is for a new film adaptation that feels fresh and at the same time pays respect to the game,” continued Russo.
It sounds like Russo and company are already sticking to this goal. Last month, the writer promised that the movie will be R-rated and feature the unrepentant gore and fatalities that gamers have come to appreciate over the last 27 years. The older films stuck to a PG-13 rating.
Thus far, Joe Taslim is the only actor confirmed to be involved with the reboot. He’ll play Sub-Zero, who made his first appearance in the original Mortal Kombat game in 1992.
How do you feel about Greg Russo’s plans for the Mortal Kombat reboot? Tell us what you think in the comment section below!
Recommended Reading: Mortal Kombat X Vol. 1: Blood Ties
