Geekery: ‘Mortal Kombat’ Cast Includes Hiroyuki Sanada and Joe Taslim
The game has gotten a big revamp this year, it’s time to bring the fight back to the big screen with some big-name martial arts actors – and hopefully an infectious techno soundtrack. Before we move on, this is required background music for the rest of the post. Put on your headphones and crank it, then (and only then) scroll down.
Production has begun in Australia on this James Wan produced take on the extremely popular video game franchise. It’s being directed by newcomer Simon McQuoid and it’s based on a script by another newcomer, Greg Russo. That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence if you’re hoping for something that’s the polar opposite of the 1995 movie. I’m hoping for another ridiculous action classic, personally.
The cast list is more interesting – there are some heavy hitters and talented martial artists included.
- Joe Taslim (The Raid) as Sub Zero
- Ludi Lin (Power Rangers) as Liu Kang
- Jessica McNamee (The Meg) as Sonya Blade
- Josh Lawson (Superstore) as Kano
- Tadanobu Asano (Ichi the Killer) as Raiden
- Mehcad Brooks (Supergirl) as Jackson “Jax” Bridges
- Chin Han (The Dark Knight) as Shang Tsung
- Hiroyuki Sanada (The Twilight Samurai) as Scorpion
- Max Huang (Kingsman: The Secret Service stuntman) as Kung Lao
- Sisi Stringer as Mileena
- Lewis Tan (Into the Badlands) in an unknown role
Those who have been reading my column for a while know of my affinity for great stunts and well-choreographed hand to hand fights. I’ll watch Joe Taslim work all day, don’t care how bad the movie around him is. I’m totally down for seeing this in a room with like-minded action fans. It’s slated to hit theaters on March 5, 2021.
