The Real Reason Newcomer Cole Young Was Made For Mortal Kombat

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A movie like the upcoming Mortal Kombat reboot is one of the trickier films to pull off for a director. For starters, it's an adaptation of a beloved video game franchise, and Hollywood history is full of video game movies that flopped. On top of that, it's also a reboot of a movie franchise that includes two live action films and two animated films. The series has introduced dozens of beloved characters since the first game came out back in 1992, and there's no realistic way to fit them all into a two-hour movie. A director has to make tough choices, and some fans will inevitably be disappointed.

The new Mortal Kombat movie debuts in theaters and on HBO Max on April 16, and while fans are hoping it hits all the right Mortal Kombat notes, there's already some controversy over who made the movie's roster. Not only will fan favorite Johnny Cage be absent from the film, it will also include a brand new character named Cole Young who competes as an MMA fighter before entering the deadly tournament. Recently, producer Todd Garner and director Simon McQuoid sat down with Fandom.com to discuss the movie, and explain why they included a character with no previous connection to the fans.

Simon McQuoid told Fandom that Cole functions as the "audience surrogate," i.e. a character entering an unfamiliar world for the first time. It's a situation that almost anyone can relate to, so it gives the audience someone for whom to root, and it's also a handy way to deliver exposition in an organic way. McQuoid pointed out that while the Mortal Kombat franchise has millions of longtime fans who have been around for decades — and the film does cater to them — the film also has to appeal to a new generation of moviegoers.

Garner mentioned that there's another reason for including Cole that will be clear by the end of the film. He didn't specify beyond that, but he did shoot down various fan theories that Cole is actually Johnny Cage, Sub-Zero, or Scorpion. Based on Garner's comments, it's likely Cole will have a similar connection to the series lore. Besides, longtime Mortal Kombat fans will still get to see plenty of familiar faces; Kano, Liu Kang, Raiden, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Sonya Blade, Goro, and Jax are just some of the Mortal Kombat characters who will be appearing in the reboot. Johnny Cage won't be in Mortal Kombat, but McQuoid did leave the door open for a potential sequel appearance. For now, we'll see if Cole Young can hold his own alongside the heavyweights.