I can still remember coming out of the theater buzzing after seeing Mortal Kombat in 1995. Liu Kang was my favorite character in the game and eight-year-old me thought they did his character justice in the film adaptation of the video game. The film also gave us perfect live-action realizations of characters like Reptile, Scorpion, and Sub-Zero. But after the failure that was Mortal Kombat: Annihilation — one of the worst sequels of all time — the franchise stalled out and the fighting game has never been as popular as it was in the mid-nineties. But just a few years ago a web-short emerged online that gained enough popularity to be taken to series by Warner Bros. Digital as Mortal Kombat: Legacy.
Considering the risk-adverse nature of Hollywood has executives mining the depths for any salvageable franchise that guarantees a built-in audience, it’s only a matter of time before the Mortal Kombat franchise returns to the silver screen. Especially since Hollywood is trying very hard to legitimize video game adaptations with features such as Warcraft and the upcoming Assasins Creed starring Michael Fassbender.
Variety reports Australian commercial director Simon McQuiod is in talks to direct the reboot for New Line Cinema. McQuiod is best known for his commercials for PlayStation, Halo, Range Rover, and Beats by Dre. Considering he has experience helming video game commercials, McQuoid just might be the right person to take on the reboot of Mortal Kombat.
James Wan will produce the film with a script penned by Greg Russo under the banner of Broken Road Productions. As of now the film does not have a release date.
SOURCE: VARIETY
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