kevin tancharoen

It’s getting a bit more hopeless with each passing month that we’ve been left with lesser and lesser prospects of a Mortal Kombat feature film since its announcement in 2010. However painful that may be to many, director Kevin Tancharoen’s application to the last two seasons of Mortal Kombat Legacy brought plenty of attention from fans for a successful webseries between 2011 and 2013 before he departed any and all business related to the franchise, and then reportedly came back in early 2014 for a mystery project leading toward a possible third season.

Well, its been many months since that report with Warner Bros. eventually breaking the news in a press release announcing an untitled Mortal Kombat series as part of their new digital production arm, Blue Ribbon Content. As it turns out, filming is expected to begin in Los Angeles sometime this month, if not already, and information linked to a casting call already hints to a slate of new characters relevant to the game franchise, including Mortal Kombat: Deception and the upcoming Mortal Kombat X. MK Online forwarded the news this week via info directly from its page over at ActorsAccess.com.

[ BO’ RAI’ CHO ] 

50s-60s – ANY ETHNICITY – This drunken man tells Jin that he will show him the way to the Shaolin academy, for a small price.  He is affable and appears harmless.  However, later we see that he is an expert fighter, and no fool.  He reveals himself to be Bo Rai Cho, the master of Wu Shi.  He leads Jin to the Wu Shi Academy. He is a rotund man with healthy appetites and never without a drink. He teaches with every opportunity and has taught several great warriors, including Liu Kang, and Kung Lao at the Wu Shi Academy. Bo’ Rai Cho originates from Outworld but has not, however, participated in a Mortal Kombat tournament, knowing that if he wins, his victory would be in the name of Shao Kahn for his status as an Outworlder. So he instead chose to utilize his fighting skills to train Earthrealm warriors…LEAD 

[ DVORAH ] 

Female, late 20s early 30s, bug-like articulation. Dvorah is of a sentient colonial race called the Kytinn, which populates the island realm of Arnyek. The solitary nature of the Kytinn meant a common defense of their realm was nonexistent; thus it was conquered and merged with Outworld by Shao Kahn. Dvorah’s loyalty and insightfulness, unusual traits for a Kytinn, led to her quick political rise. Soon she found herself among the emperor’s closest advisers. She serves the current ruler of Outworld, Kotal Kahn…LEAD 

[ SCORPION AKA HANZO HASASHI ] 

In his 30s to 40s, angry, tortured, and tough, Hanzo is a Ninja master.  Hanzo was a member of the Shirai-Rya clan until they and his family were killed by Sub-Zero of the rival Lin Kuei clan.  Hanzo’s soul was claimed by the Netherrealm sorcerer Quan Chi, who resurrected him as the revenant Scorpion and gave him the chance to avenge his family’s deaths.  Full of rage and hellfire, Scorpion fights alongside Quan Chi in Netherrealm’s invasion of Earthrealm…LEAD 

[ TAKEDA ] 

In his mid 20s, quiet and mild-mannered, but with an angry streak, he is the “nice” one of the group.  He is a world-class swordsman and he is adept at telepathy and telekinesis. Takahashi Takeda is the son of the hero Kenshi and a young Thai-American woman named Suchin, whom Kenshi met during his travels. When Suchin passed away, Kenshi was shocked to learn he had had an eight-year-old son with her. He took Takeda to Hanzo Hasashi, the former Scorpion, to be instructed in the Martial Arts. Takeda had no contact with his father for many years, until the day he was to leave Hanzo’s tutelage. Kenshi revealed that he had left Takeda with Hanzo to protect him from his mother’s murderer. Despite this revelation, and subsequent reconciliation with Kenshi, Takeda has abandonment issues yet to overcome—which makes working with his father in Johnny Cage’s Special Forces team a challenge at times…LEAD 

[ SALAZAR ] 

In his 30s to 40s, quiet, reserved, downcast, he is a mercenary in the service of the Emperor.  Intelligent and eloquent, he sounds like he may be American.  Salazar’s exact origins are unknown. Born on Earth, he somehow found himself in Outworld. There he spent years wandering its vast territories, selling his amazing weaponry skills to local warlords. Now in the employ of the emperor, Kotal Kahn, Salazar shows no inclination to return to Earthrealm—or aid them in their present struggles…LEAD 

[ KUNG JIN ] 

In his mid 20s, with a slight Asian accent, Kung Jin is the younger cousin of the Earthrealm hero Kung Lao. He is cerebral but streetwise.  He is American in speech patterns/idioms.  When Kung Lao was killed in the war against Outworld, Kung’s family’s fortunes took a turn for the worse. He journeyed to the U.S. and became a thief. An encounter with Raiden changed Jin’s outlook, and he joined the Shaolin monks. Now a member of Johnny Cage’s secret Special Forces offshoot, Jin’s streetwise past provides him extra insight into the minds and motivations of those who would harm Earthrealm…LEAD 

[ RON TAN’ CHO ] 

Male, 45-60. Asian. Ron Tan’ Cho is an underground crime boss.  He does what he wants, takes what he wants & always get what he wants.  He has one wicked smile that if shown to you means trouble.  He enjoys toying with his enemies & seeing the fear on their faces.   D’Vorah attempts to attack him, and she fails due to his Goons apprehending her. LEAD

Hollywood Stunt Coordinator Garret Warren is taking the helm this time as director with Jenny Hinkey and Lance Sloane producing, in addition to the prospects of the possible return of respective characters Johnny Cage and Kung Lao via Casper Van Dien and Mark Dacascos who have been busy overseas in Asia filming at least two movies, including Relentless and Showdown In Manila. As for other Kombat-related casting speculations, it still remains to be seen if actor Brian Tee will return as disgraced Shaolin Monk-turned-civilian Liu Kang following his cliffhanger with warrior monk Lao, or whether or not Dave McInnis will reprise his S2 role as thunderous Earthrealm protector, Raiden. Actor Ian Anthony Dale played the role for both seasons, so it will be interesting to see who takes his place for this go-around.

Moreover, with mention of the Special Forces end of the MK universe, perhaps we’ll see a new actress in the role of Sonya Blade if it isn’t Jeri Ryan, or actor Eric Jacobus get some more screentime as Kurtis Stryker, or possibly see Michael Jai White smash hell out of something with his new set of cybernetic strength enhancers as Jackson “Jax” Briggs this time, and even inviting a great opportunity to see the possible return of Darren Shahlavi as the red-eyed arms dealing murderer, Kano.

I could go on, I know. DC Comics issued its first copy of its Mortal Kombat digital comic book last week so perhaps there may be some answers there leading up to the release of the new game. Other than that, speculate away as this news continues to develop!

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