Summary
TheMortal Kombatfranchise has had a bit of a rough history when it comes to the world of live-action. WhileMortal Kombat’s first foray into the world of live-action in 1995 was met with a disappointing critical reception, it’s since gained a bit of a cult following, though the same can’t be said for the franchise’s next outing,Mortal Kombat: Annihilation,which is still widely regarded as one ofthe worst movies ever made.
But that was far from the last timeMortal Kombatreceived a live-action adaptation. The most recent attempt was 2021’sMortal Kombat, which again, wasn’t a huge hit with critics or fans, but it must have performed well at the box office as Warner Bros. has a sequel primed and ready to drop in the near future. ThoughMortal Kombat2021 certainly isn’t the blueprint that video game live-action adaptations should follow, it did have one intriguing element that would fit the upcomingBorderlandsmovie very well.
The Borderlands Movie Could Feature a Mortal Kombat-Like Tease
The Mortal Kombat Movie Teased A Big Character Reveal
A movie that doesn’t actually revolve around its titular tournament at all,Mortal Kombat2021felt like more of a setup for a potential sequel than a fully standalone story. This is pretty apparent from the movie’s line-up of characters. While Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Raiden, Shang Tsung, and many other iconic series staples are all present in the movie, there are quite a few classic heroes and villains that didn’t make the cut, with the biggest being the Hollywood wash-up Johnny Cage.
Right at the end ofMortal Kombat2021, afternew protagonist Cole Youngmanages to defeat Shang Tsung’s Outworld champions, and the sorcerer promises to bring his A-game for the actual Mortal Kombat tournament, Raiden sends off his Earthrealm heroes to go and recruit some more champions. The final scene ofMortal Kombat2021 has Cole Young leaving his hometown’s gym, telling his old mentor that he’s off to Hollywood to find someone.
The camera then pans to a poster on the wall for the in-universe movie “Citizen Cage,” whose leading man is, unsurprisingly, Johnny Cage, though fans are left without confirmation of who’s playing the classic character as the poster only shows his torso. A few years later, after a fair few leaks and rumors, it was confirmed that Karl Urban ofThe Boysfame would be playingJohnny Cage in the upcomingMortal Kombatsequel, where he’ll likely act as one of the movie’s main selling points.
The Borderlands Movie Could End With a Similar Tease
After years of production issues, theBorderlandsmovie has finally released its first full trailer, and it’s already received a bit of a shaky reception from fans. Bringing Roland, Lilith, Tiny Tina, Krieg, Claptrap, and Dr. Tannis together,theBorderlandsmoviefeatures a bit of an odd ensemble, especially when paired with the movie’s questionable casting. But that doesn’t mean that theBorderlandsmovie is necessarily doomed to fail, it still has a lot of potential, and if it plays its cards right, this could be just the start of a new movie franchise.
IfBorderlandswants to tease a sequel in its final moments, then the best way to do that might be by taking a page out ofMortal Kombat’s playbook and teasing a Handsome Jack appearance for the sequel. Though he’s confirmed not to be in the movie in a major role,Handsome Jack could still appearright at the end of the movie. Even if Lionsgate doesn’t want to cast the role, it could just show Jack’s face mask, similar to howMortal Kombatjust showed Johnny Cage’s torso and belt buckle.
Mortal Kombat 1
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to a new era of Kombat. NetherRealm Studios ushers in a new era of the iconic fighting franchise with a total reset that changes the entire world as we know it. Following the thrilling climax of Mortal Kombat 11, the all-powerful Fire God Liu Kang has created a New Era in the hope of bringing peace to Earthrealm and beyond. Through the series' most cinematic story mode yet, you’ll be reintroduced to a cast of legendary warriors as you’ve never seen them before. Expect twists on classic friendships and rivalries, as well as new backstories that will change everything you think you know about your favorite Kombatants. Discover a host of new offline and online game modes as you master a revitalized fighting system that boasts bone-crunching Fatal Blows, defensive Breakers and the most creatively vicious Fatalities yet.
