The 2021 Mortal Kombat film reboot took a contentious chance with its central protagonist being an original character, and one NetherRealm Studios ought to embrace. For the upcoming Mortal Kombat 12, one roster addition should be reserved for the new film's main character, Cole.
Despite its planned release for some point in 2023, not much else is known about Mortal Kombat 12, which Ed Boon and NetherRealm Studios have been tight-lipped about since its unceremonious reveal during a Warner Brothers earnings call. With the year shaping up to be one of the best in recent history for fighting game fans, there is concern surrounding Mortal Kombat's ability to stand out where there are so many other highly-anticipated contenders. Between Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6, some fans worry that there may not be room for a new Mortal Kombat game in 2023.
The Mortal Kombat Movie and How Mortal Kombat 12 is Adapting Ahead of Launch
Regardless of the stiff competition, Mortal Kombat has always been a series assured of itself and its unique style. It appears that NetherRealm will rise to the challenge of a 2023 schedule crowded with fighting game releases. Ed Boon recently took to Twitter to poll fans on game modes that should return for Mortal Kombat 12, which shows that the studio is full-steam ahead for its impending release. Fans eagerly await an announcement trailer to drop soon, as any small scrap of information gets endlessly disseminated online. The historic franchise has been due for a new chapter since the last bit of DLC for Mortal Kombat 11 launched in 2021.
The recent film adaption of Mortal Kombat had its ups and downs in terms of critical reception. Advocates praised its faithfully brutal and gory action, as well as some phenomenal casting choices - in particular, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion. The more tepid responses blasted the film for its painful and overly-expository dialog. Regardless of where fans of the game stand on the movie, its decision to feature a character completely new to the Mortal Kombat canon was a bold choice that could prove an opportunity for NetherRealm Studios.
Throwing Cole in the Ring for Mortal Kombat 12 Would be a Natural Addition
The story mode for Mortal Kombat 11 was bombastic, self-aware, and one of the game's most pleasant surprises when it launched in 2019. A central theme across its multiple narrative arcs was the passing of the torch to a new generation, with series' staples fighting alongside their progenies and pupils. The 2022 film followed a similar thread, with its hero Cole being a distant descendant of Hanzo Hasashi, better known as Scorpion. Weaving together the plots of the game and the movie could make for a riveting continuance of that new school usurping the old trope.
Director Simon McQuoid explained his thought process behind featuring a new character for his Mortal Kombat movie, seeing Cole as a bridge between the world of Mortal Kombat and a wider audience. The MMA fighter turned EarthRealm's champion brought a contemporary relevance to a franchise that already had a dose of it with characters like Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, and Jax Briggs, but was also chock-full of martial arts mysticism that casual audiences might have considered imposing or inscrutable. While NetherRealm should not stray too far from its roots, adding Cole to the roster seems like a logical fit for the trend that began with Mortal Kombat 11's story.
If previous games in the series are any indicator, the roster for Mortal Kombat 12 should bring plenty of familiar and fresh faces. The addition of Cole has some solid potential not only as a fighter in his own right but as a sign of a franchise standing in solidarity with its adaptations across other mediums.
Mortal Kombat 12 is in development.