Yahoo Movies 'Mortal Kombat' reboot will be R-rated and feature 'fatalities' for the first time
Screenwriter Greg Russo has confirmed that the forthcoming Mortal Kombat movie will be “R-rated” and will feature the game’s signature “fatalities” for the very first time.
When playing the video game, the words 'Finish him!' appear on the screen at the end of a fight, leaving the player moments to complete a complex set of moves which sets off a deadly - and often extremely gory - finishing move.
Yet it's an act we've not seen replicated on the silver screen across the two Paul WS Anderson movies – until now, as Russo took to Twitter to confirm to fans the new direction this cinematic property will be going in.
In a tweet posted today, Russo, who is also penning the Resident Evil reboot, said online, “Since it's already been stated by other members of the team, I'm gonna put this one to bed. MK WILL be R-Rated and for the first time EVER, FATALITIES will FINALLY be on the big screen (and no I'm not gonna say which ones) You'll just have to wait for the movie & see!!! ;)”
Since it's already been stated by other members of the team, I'm gonna put this one to bed. MK WILL be R-Rated and for the first time EVER, FATALITIES will FINALLY be on the big screen (and no I'm not gonna say which ones) You'll just have to wait for the movie & see!!! ;) pic.twitter.com/aVTewH4t28
— Greg Russo (@WriterRusso) July 12, 2019
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It comes as something of a surprise to think that the two original features – Mortal Kombat (1995) and Annihilation (1997) didn't feature any of the trademark gore and gratuitous violence that comes with the immensely popular video games, but now that is being rectified it suggests a change in perspective, and potentially a brighter box-office return for this franchise.
When trying to figure out what fatalities may be shown in the film, there's a whole list of iconic deaths that fans would love to see realised on screen. It could be Kano's 'heart rip', which is sort of self-explanatory, much like Sub-Zero's spine rip manoeuvre is.
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We were always a big fan of Scorpion's 'toasty', mostly for its name (it's a move that sees your opponent burnt alive, obviously).
Then there's Reptile's 'tongue lash', Sonya's 'kiss of death' and of course Johnny Cage's 'here's Johnny' – an ode to The Shining that would work well in a cinematic endeavour. In short, fans want blood. And we’re finally gonna be getting some.
Mortal Kombat will be released on 5 March 2021.
