To quote our dear good friend, Shang Tsung, “It has begun!”
With Mortal Kombat 1 being revealed and then eventually shown off at Summer Game Fest, fans have been dying to risk an audience with Kronika to speed up time to September 19 so that they can finally get a chance to play the bloody reboot.
But, while Mortal Kombat 1 will bring in a set of familiar fans, fans looking to bring some Hollywood flair to their battles are in for a bit of a disappointment: Cole Young, the original character and protagonist from the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie, will not be appearing in the new game.
According to NetherRealm Studios’ Lead Systems Designer, Derek Kirtzic, the world of the cinematic Mortal Kombat will be its own entity, separate from the digital arena of Mortal Kombat 1, as per his interview with ComicBook.com.
Introduced in the 2021 film as an audience surrogate, Cole Young represented the uninitiated masses, stepping wide-eyed into the brutal world of Mortal Kombat. Although he eventually discovered his heritage as a descendant of Scorpion, one of the franchise’s most iconic characters, his motivations and personality were criticized by fans as lackluster and generic. Not to mention, his unique ability to manifest an energy-based armor was largely seen as overpowered for a character of his stature.
Despite these criticisms, Cole Young is set to reprise his role in an upcoming sequel to the 2021 movie, with filming slated to begin this month in Australia. While fans may be divided about his character in the film, there is no question about his absence in the new game.
However, all is not lost for enthusiasts of the iconic game series. Mortal Kombat 1 will see the return of fan favorites such as Sub-Zero, Kitana, and Liu Kang. The new game is also introducing a Kameo Fighter system, further broadening the combat options for seasoned fighters and newcomers alike.
It’s clear the worlds of the Mortal Kombat film and game series will remain separate for the foreseeable future. Cole Young, despite his recent introduction into the Mortal Kombat mythology, will remain a film-exclusive character. In the meantime, NetherRealm Studios continues to forge ahead with its plans for Mortal Kombat 1, due for release on September 19 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Fans of the franchise can anticipate a return to the thrilling, gore-filled fights they’ve grown to love, even without the presence of the film’s protagonist.
And, oh, everyone’s favorite anti-hero from The Boys, Karl Urban, who plays Billy the Butcher, has reportedly signed on to play Johnny Cage in the Mortal Kombat sequel with Adeline Rudolph taking on the role of Kitana.
