Mortal Kombat is on top of the world these days, with amazing games and amazing fans. Now it seems that the series' ambitions will once again extend well beyond the games themselves and onto the big screen in a pair of forays into film.
The idea of a Mortal Kombat movie is not a new concept, though it makes more sense now than ever before. The story of Mortal Kombat 11 is already particularly cinematic, so an animated film, like Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge, makes sense.
The animated film now has two official release dates, the first being for digital services on April 12, and the second being the physical release later in the month, on April 28. There will also be a slew of bonus features accompanying the release, including background info on the major players in the film, discussions with the artists about the challenge of animating Mortal Kombat's world and characters, and commentary from producer Rick Morales and screenwriter Jeremy Adams, of Teen Titans vs. Teen Titans Go fame. This announcement is the biggest since the Scorpion's Revenge trailer was shown and several screenshots have been released with the news.
If the trailer is any indication, Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge probably takes place during the tournament of the first Mortal Kombat game, or possibly the altered one that comprises the first part of Mortal Kombat 9's story. Considering the fact that the current series of Mortal Kombat games are the most well received games in the franchise ever (at least, according to Metacritic), tying them to the movie would be the most logical thing to do. If that turns out to be true, it would pave the way for an entire animated film series based around the new timeline.
Of course, a film series may turn into something that fans regret in the long run. Just as there are certain characters fans hope never return to the Mortal Kombat roster, there are some legacies, like those of the original live action films, that are best remembered as jokes rather than serious endeavors.
On the other hand, Mortal Kombat has been rather brutally shedding the aspects of its lore that do the franchise no favors, so extending the overhaul into the films could be just what the doctor ordered. Who knows? Maybe it will be successful enough to get its own Honest Trailer.