Mortal Kombat 1 Dev Seemingly Confirms Scorpion Fan Theory

Summary

Scorpion's identity in Mortal Kombat 1 seems to be Kuai Liang, the second Sub-Zero, marking a major change in the character's backstory.
This twist raises questions about the roles of Hanzo Hasashi and Noob Saibot in the rebooted Mortal Kombat timeline.
Fans are eager to see how the new dynamic between Scorpion and Sub-Zero unfolds and are anticipating the release of Mortal Kombat 1 on September 19.

A major fan theory surrounding Mortal Kombat 1’s take on Scorpion has seemingly been confirmed by one of NetherRealm’s developers. Players were first introduced to Scorpion in the original Mortal Kombat way back in 1992, and the undead, fire-controlling, yellow-clad ninja warrior has been the face of the franchise ever since. Scorpion has appeared in every Mortal Kombat game and movie adaptation, starred in his own direct-to-video animated film, and was even featured as a guest combatant in the first Injustice game.

In the original Mortal Kombat timeline, Scorpion was once Hanzo Hasashi, a high-ranking member of the Shirai Ryu ninja clan. After his family was attacked by the rival Lin Kuei, Hanzo was resurrected by the sorcerer Quan Chi to serve as his minion in the first Mortal Kombat tournament - as well as to seek revenge on the Lin Kuei warrior Bi-Han, aka Sub-Zero. However, Liu Kang’s alternation of the MK timeline at the end of Mortal Kombat 11 has led to a major change in Scorpion’s relationship with Sub-Zero, as the two ninjas are now brothers within the Lin Kuei.

Ever since this twist was revealed, fans have speculated that it won’t be Hanzo Hasashi behind Scorpion’s iconic yellow mask in Mortal Kombat 1, and now it looks like these suspicions have been confirmed. During a recent interview at last week’s San Diego Comic-Con 2023, Mortal Kombat 1 story director Dominic Cianciolo discussed the revamped relationship between the three playable Lin Kuei members, during which he seemingly let it slip that Scorpion is now Kuai Liang - the second Sub-Zero of the original Mortal Kombat continuity.

This would be quite an ironic twist of fate, as Kuai Liang spent the better part of the old Mortal Kombat timeline as Scorpion’s bitter enemy. He first took up the mantle of Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat 2 to avenge the death of his brother Bi-Han by Scorpion’s hand - though Bi-Han himself would later be resurrected as the ghostly ninja Noob Saibot. Bi-Han and Kuai Liang’s brotherly relationship means that the two ninjas are on good terms at the start of Mortal Kombat 1, but the game’s character bios have suggested that Scorpion and Sub-Zero may eventually become enemies once again.

The classic rivalry between Scorpion and Sub-Zero has already undergone a major overhaul in Mortal Kombat 1, and this freshly-confirmed twist that Scorpion may be Kuai Liang raises a whole new line of questions about where Hanzo Hasashi and Noob Saibot stand in the rebooted MK timeline. It will certainly be interesting to see how this new dynamic plays out, and fans will get to experience the first chapter in the new Lin Kuei storyline when Mortal Kombat 1 launches this fall.