Mortal Kombat 1 has finally made its much-awaited debut, and it’s been a smash hit among fans of this brutal fighting franchise (apologies to our Nintendo Switch friends, though). One of the key attractions of this NetherRealm Studios masterpiece is its extensive lineup of characters – which would have been even better, as John Wick was almost part of the roster.
Yes, you read that right: Baba Yaga himself, the character that has become synonymous with Keanu Reeves’ action-packed filmography, was on the radar for the Mortal Kombat universe. Ed Boon, the co-creator of Mortal Kombat, revealed this surprising news in an interview with Rolling Stone, stating:
When we were making Mortal Kombat (1992), the whole team was in the midst of Bloodsport, Enter the Dragon, and all the Terminator movies. I could certainly see the John Wicks of the world… as a matter of fact, that is one of the ones that we tried to get – John Wick – in Mortal Kombat, and we didn’t get it.
Boon also revealed that he had envisioned Keanu Reeves playing Kenshi’s character, saying:
One of the things that I entertained with this game – and this is the 10 out of 10 version – which we didn’t do, was, “What if every character in this game was played by an actor?” Like we got Keanu Reeves to play Kenshi… this is, like, pipe dream.
The mere thought of John Wick, with his unparalleled combat prowess and arsenal of weapons, going toe-to-toe with the likes of Scorpion or Sub-Zero is enough to send shivers down any gamer’s spine. While the specifics of why this crossover didn’t materialize remain shrouded in mystery, we’re certain Reeves played a hand in it.
Back in 2021, the Canadian actor asserted that neither The Matrix’s Neo nor John Wick would fit in the Mortal Kombat universe – keep in mind, Reeves is an avid gamer himself, beyond also appearing in games – claiming:
If it was up to me? No. Mortal Kombat is awesome in so many ways, but I think… you know, Neo, John Wick, they’re doing their own thing. Mortal Kombat is doing their own thing.
This, by far, isn’t the first time Mortal Kombat has flirted with pop culture icons. The game’s history is rife with guest appearances, from horror legends like Freddy Krueger to action film stalwarts like the Terminator. Even the popular Jean-Claude Van Damme finally made his long-awaited debut in Mortal Kombat 1, though he features as a skin for Johnny Cage.
While the Mortal Kombat series has always drawn inspiration from action cinema of the 70’s and 80s’, modern cinematic influences are evident. Boon’s acknowledgment of characters like John Wick showcases the franchise’s evolution and its finger on the pulse of contemporary pop culture.
As for Mortal Kombat 1, the game is already making waves with its refreshed roster and gameplay mechanics (though fans are not loving Megan Fox’s portrayal of Nitara). Though John Wick won’t be making an appearance this time around, the door remains open for future collaborations. After all, in the world of video games, as in the movies, anything is possible.
Who knows? Maybe the next installment will surprise us with another iconic character, such as Donnie Yen or the rising martial artist, Iko Uwais.
