Mortal Kombat Gets Gritty with "Rebirth"

Recently a teaser film for a re-inspired Mortal Kombat made its way online. Since then speculation has been running high on who’s involved and how long before it hits the big screen.

The eight-minute trailer was shot in less than a week as a pitch to Warner Brothers for a movie franchise reboot. 

The Mortal Kombat franchise has been popular since the early 1990’s when the series of fighting games was first released.  While the first feature film in 1995, Mortal Kombat, became an instant fan-favorite, the sequel titled Mortal Kombat: Annihilation was widely panned when it released in 1997. 

One reboot of the franchise had already been rumored to be in the works since 2009. Tentatively titled Mortal Kombat: Devastation, it was slated for a release in 2010.

When asked on whether or not Devastation was meant to be a sequel to the prior two films, the director said to Moviehole,  “the project isn't so much a sequel as it is a "re-envisioning  of the Mortal Kombat franchise from top to bottom. Today’s audience is a savvy involved group so the film must be A plus plus in every area in order to capture the magic of the first film."
 
Perhaps there are two reboots vying for the big screen. The newest addition, titled Mortal Kombat: Rebirth, already boasts a number of reputable martial arts fighters. This factor can only enhance a film based on fighting.

The teaser for the film showcases Michael Jai White as Jax, Jeri Ryan as Sonya Blade, Matt Mullins as Johnny Cage,  Ian Anthony Dale as Scorpion, Lateef Crowder as Baraka and James Lew as Shang Tsung. The fight choreography was done by Larnell Stovall, who worked on the fight sequenced in Undisputed III.

Director Kevin Tancharoen, a big fan of martial arts films, has said that he does want to include the mysticism and special powers of Mortal Kombat in a tasteful way. He also intends to depict fatalities. 

Michael Jai White has remarked,  "The reboot of this type of franchise is the type of thing people want to see. Kevin Tancharoen's view of it is great. That's why I jumped in. We wanted to do the things we'd like to see. This dark, gritty feel -- along with the action -- is a no-brainer."

Take a look at the footage for Mortal Kombat: Rebirth.