Casting the New Mortal Kombat Movie's Biggest Characters
Mortal Kombat isn't the most esteemed video game franchise, but its coterie of bloodthirsty fighters is one of the most beloved in gaming history. Sure, the 1995 movie adaptation was a dud, but it was a magnificent dud with a throbbing Jock Jams soundtrack and a provocative cast. (Where have you gone, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras?) Since the 2013 reboot has a chance of reigniting interest in the age-old series, let's cast our dream players in five of the main roles.
Harry Shum Jr. as Liu Kang
Harry Shum Jr. is Glee's most intriguing cast member. He can't sing, but he can dance. He's not a main character, but he's one of the most gorgeous dudes in primetime. His specialized skill set is ideal for Liu Kang, the fast-moving dragon master with a massive, fire-breathing fatality. The fight choreography might be better suited to someone like Taylor Lautner, but Shum is just more appealing than Twilight's crying wolf.
Armie Hammer as Sub Zero and Scorpion
The Social Network's clever Parent Trap clone job of Armie Hammer is so damn fun, I think Mortal Kombat should exhume the trick for the parts of identical fighters Sub Zero and Scorpion. For Sub Zero, Hammer could deliver his signature Winklevoss frostiness, but for Scorpion, I'd prefer he tap into ghastlier, scarier new territory. When he screams, "Get over here!" I want Mark Zuckerberg to blink uncontrollably, scurry back to Harvard, and hide in his dorm room.
Jennifer Lawrence as Sonya Blade
She's toplining a much fancier operation with The Hunger Games these days, but Jennifer Lawrence is just right to play the ponytailed warrioress whose kiss of death is as unnerving as any scene from Winter's Bone. Bridget Wilson-Sampras's coldness worked in Billy Madison, but it's a bit too forced for an actual fighter. There's no disbelieving Jennifer Lawrence's intimidation, and I expect her to tower effortlessly over lesser femme fatales like Mileena and Jade.
Dwayne Johnson as Raiden
He may seem like a more obvious choice for Jax or Kano, but 10 years into Dwayne Johnson's career as a (non-wrestling) thespian, I support all efforts to cast him as a wizened, supernatural elder force. Raiden is an immortal brimming with thundering stoicism; his part shouldn't be handled by an action film amateur. If Johnson's spirited performance in Fast Five is any indication, he can make even the campiest of material more fun than it has any right to be.
Joel McHale as Johnny Cage
Johnny Cage's brawny, washed-up Hollywood persona is meant to provide comic relief next to the chillier grit of the other characters, and who better to fill his boots than the overtly muscular and bastardly Joel McHale? His dryness would update the character nicely, and he'd also get to show off that jacked physique he so cavalierly reveals on Community.
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Comments
You want an old action hero for Raiden? How about Jean-Claude Van Damme? He's already back to movies with Expendables 2, and nothing says stoic quite like him. And he's a martial artist as well.
Okay i dont agree with the rock being raiden.....Raiden is one of the biggest parts. And no joel for johnny cage. Hes not muscular enough by any level to match johnny cage. Its mortal kombat!
HOW HARD IS IT TO GET THE CASTING RIGHT THIS IS GONNA BE THE 3RD TIME AND THESE IDIOTS ARE NOWHERE NEAR GETTING IT RIGHT! COME ON THE ROCK RAIDEN! PLEASE THE ONLY ONE IN THE CAST THAT MAKES SENSE IS SONYA AND LIU KANG. TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE CHARACTERS AND TRY TO GET AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE GAME FORGET THE HOLLYWOOD ASPECT OF IT. LETS GET THIS ONE RIGHT. BY THE WAY MORTAL KOMBAT LEGACY KINDA CLOSE STILL NOT THERE LOTS OF GOOD BUT STILL ALOT OF BAD REPTILE AND BARAKA FOR EXAMPLE IT WAS TRASH!
100% agree
The Rock as Rayden.? I pray to God that never happens. I don't know why people always have to push things like this for the celebrities. I just don't understand it. Why does it have to be a famous actor.? Have some auditions, find some underground punk who can act better that most of todays Hollywood, and make your movie. But if I'd have to pick a famous cast, it would go like this:
Liu Kang - Mike Moh
Kung Lao - Tony Jaa ( but I would give him very little screen time, if any )
Johnny Cage - Scott Adkins or Ryan Reynolds
Rayden - Mark Dacascos
Kano - Jason Statham
Jax - Michael Jai White ( in lack of a better actor )
Sonya Blade - Katheryn Winnick
Nightwolf - Jason Momoa etc...
But I still think that acting is more important that physical resemblance. The Rock is a good actor for example, but he could never pull of the style and wisdom of Rayden. Or a shitload of actors look like Liu Kang, but half of them lack the skill in portraying him righteously.
I agree with your choices for Kano, Johnny Cage (Reynolds), & Jax. I mean, Jason Statham being in a movie these days means a 90% chance that movie is gonna be action-packed & awesome!(Hope he makes crank 3 soon!!!) Reynolds works for Cage because he can pull off a good action flick, but keep the comedy/smart-alleck remarks in there(Green Lantern & X-Men Origins Wolverine. He did Deadpool just right) Micheal Jai is the ONLY guy that can pull off a perfect Jax! I mean, Terry Crews or others like him may be black, bald, & buff, but M. J. White knows martial arts. He doesn't just act like he can beat you down with style... HE LITTERALLY CAN!!!(Also, if they do a God of War movie, he needs to be Kratos. Look at Kratos before he got bleached, he had a kinda dark skin-tone. Come on, admit it... He was black! Lol, but forreal tho. Also hehas the physique & he could pull off Kratos' mean looks/anger which Kratosis ALWAYS angry. If they cast The Rock as Kratos, I'm still gonna watch the movie. ITS GOD OF WAR!!!!! However, it wouldbe abig dissappointment if they use someone undeserving of the role. I'm sorry, but I don't think Rock could do a good Kratos.) The Rock would fit somewherein this movie, but I dont believe he would work as Raiden, Kano(USE STATHAM), or Jax(USE MICHEAL JAI WHITE). I guess almost ruled out any role he could have. Oops!
They should try to get Jason David Frank for either sub zero or scorpion, at least he has the martial arts behind him from doing power rangers.
Dwayne Johnson should be Jax, Ronda Rousey should be Sonya, Jimmy Smits from Sons Of Anarchy can be Shang Tsung, the witch from the tv show Once Upon A Time can be Sindel and Zoe Saldana can be Jade
I forgot to mention, Jason Stathom should be Kano
Zhang Ziyi from Crouching tiger hidden dragon can be Li Mei, Kate Beckinsale can be Mileena and Keanu Reeves csn be Kenshi
Got a fancast of my own:
Scorpion - Ian Anthony Dale
Sub Zero - Mark Dacascos
Shang Tsung - Johnson Phan
Liu Kang - Jason Scott Lee
Kung Lao - Jet Li
Johnny Cage - Ryan Reynolds
Sonya Blade - Katheryn Winnick
Jax Briggs - Michael Jai White
Shao Kahn - Dwayne Johnson
Raiden - Thomas Jane
Kitana - Celina Jade
Mileena - Kristin Kreuk
Sindel - Nastassia Malthe
Jade - Zoe Saldana
Tanya - Persia White
Li Mei - Krystal Vee
Nitara - Tatiana Maslany
Darrius - Sticky Fingaz
Nightwolf - Jason Momoa
Kurtis Stryker - Tahmoh Peinkett
Kenshi - Keanu Reeves
Kai - Harold Perrineau
Kobra - Christian Howard
Skarlet - Deborah Ann Woll
Kira - Holland Roden
Frost - Emilia Clarke
Cassie Cage - Nicola Peltz
Jacqui Briggs - Zendaya Coleman (this may be a pretty odd choice because she's still a Disney star, but it's been stuck in my head for months)
Takeda - Booboo Stewart
Kung Jin - Justin Chon
Smoke - Jon Foo
Kabal - Channing Tatum
Sareena - Milla Jovovich
Quan Chi - Mike Moh
Hotaru - Alexander Skarsgard
Sheeva - Vivica A. Fox
Erron Black - Daniel Craig
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