The sequel to the 2021 Mortal Kombat film is fast approaching production, but there are still many questions regarding both it’s plot and missing cast details.
The first film served as an introduction to the mythos, and all signs point to the second film serving as a pretty huge escalation – both in terms of stakes and character count.
With those debuting characters comes the question of who the heck is playing them, because news on that front has been unbelievably dry. We at least got confirmation of Karl Urban slapping on the shades of Johnny Cage, but that is still small potatoes! We’ve got the likes of Shao Kahn, Kitana, Sindel – a whole roster of sequel names that are yet to be revealed.
Well, some eagle eyed denizens of the web have managed to unearth some audition tapes that are floating amongst the bitstream, and with it – some clues as to the films plot. Oh, and I guess prospective actors.
— Beware Spoilers Below —
Initially, people discovered Vimeo uploads that showcased actors reading lines that seemed oddly bespoke. In some audition processes, lines are specifically written to try and capture a particular character’s purpose and personality – but the lines of displayed in these videos dive heavily into a much greater plot. Other characters are mentioned, huge plots threads are detailed and even grand reveals are casually dropped.
These videos have long been removed from Vimeo, but as always the internet is quick to capture and mirror such a resource:
Rob Kipa-Williams audition sees him reading for the Emperor of Outworld, Shao Kahn. His dialogue is delivered in an impactful, deliberate manner – full of menace and gravitas, But, within that dialogue is a few snippets of plot information – in particular, the mention of revenants. Within the Mortal Kombat universe, dark sorcery can be used to resurrect and enslave someone – turning them into a revenant servant. The line, as spoken clearly states “Kung Lao wasn’t the only one we brought back”, confirming the razor-hatted fighters’ return after his unfortunate demise in the first film.
The person helping with the lines then reads off the script, saying “Bye Hon, I have been reborn as a shadow of the emperor” – which to the casual observer may sound like a weird farewell followed by a pledge of featly. But to anyone with Mortal Kombat knowledge, “Bye Hon” is far more likely to be Bi-Han, the canonical real name of the original fighter Sub-Zero. In Mortal Kombat lore, Sub-Zero was defeated and later reborn as one of the most powerful revenants – becoming a shadowy fighter known as Noob Saibot; a plot thread that would work beautifully in the sequel, given where Sub-Zero ended up at the end of the first film.
It’s worth mentioning that Rob Kipa-Williams personification of Shao Kahn is extremely good, leaning away from the almost cartoony nature that appears in some adaptations. Rather than being a giant dork with a booming voice, he is confident and inwardly sure of his power and influence. While not guaranteed for the part, seeing his quiet tone when revealing that he was aware of the plans of others against him was brilliantly read. All those years on Home and Away paid off!
Within his dialogue, he also reveals a plot thread that suggests that his adopted daughter Kitana has worked hard on a ploy to overthrow or kill him – only to reveal that he has masterfully used her gambit against her, endangering those who sought to help her. This is also super on-brand for the character of Kitana, so it’s hardly a surprise to see such a narrative thread existing in the sequel.
Our other auditioning party is Arawinda Kirana, reading for the part of Jade – bodyguard and long term friend of Princess Kitana. Her dialogue further develops the desperation of Kitana to defeat Shao Kahn, albeit with more character development and less major plot reveals.
The real star of the first film
It’s crazy to see such information made available by way of audition tapes – and perhaps all of this dialogue has been specially written to throw people off the scent of the real plot, but given it’s nature it feels incredibly genuine. From a purely selfish standpoint, I am electrified at the thought of seeing my boy Kung Lao back in action – even if he has switched teams and is now part of team baddie. There is also the exciting thought that the resurrection plot detail could deliver us another amazing Kano performance by Josh Lawson, a positively stellar highlight from the first film.
By all means, take all of the above with a grain of your favourite brand of speculative salt – especially with casting still yet to be openly confirmed for all of these characters.
Are you keen for some more Mortal Kombat cinematic violence? How do you feel about the speculative plot details? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
