While the iconic fighting game series hasn't bee home only to winners over the years, the most recent Mortal Kombat proved that the property can still yield results. And with Kevin Tancharoen's live-action web series Mortal Kombat Legacy not only beginning its second season this fall, but getting the green light for a feature film reboot, another age of MK on film may be beginning.
We got the chance to sit down and speak to the cast of Legacy at San Diego Comic Con 2013, and the one thing they all agreed would be a big hit with fans come Season 2 has been a long time coming: violence on par with that doled out in the game itself. Specifically, the now-legendary Fatalities.
Once (and arguably, still) the prime example for those who claim video games glorify violence and bloodshed, the Mortal Kombat name has become as synonymous with 'campiness' as it has with fighting gameplay. Anyone who saw a single episode of Legacy - or Tancharoen's initial concept footage - knows that the director's re-imagining took things to a fairly dark place (even if the finished product was lighter than his original idea).
Much of that campiness, of course, is due to the previous live-action adapatation seen in Mortal Kombat (1995). According to Samantha Jo - reprising her role as Kitana - and Ian Anthony Dale - bringing Scorpion to life yet again - while that film put fantasy ahead of fist-fighting, the changing times mean fans will finally see a live-action take that lives up to the series' tradition:
"The '90s film... it was great. That was the trend, that was the style and that was what people wanted to see. That was Mortal Kombat back then. But now, trends and styles of filmmaking changed, and what this web series does... it modernized it. All these stories are gritty and darker and that's just what people want to see now, it just matches so perfectly the true essence of the game.
"This game is gory and violent as hell. So now that the times are kind of matched with that style, I think it's the perfect time. It's the future, a truly new future."
The first trailer for Legacy's second season promised that the web series would shift from short origin stories to a traditional narrative - albeit one completely separated from the upcoming motion picture. But while story may be a priority for all involved, no self-respecting project bearing the 'Mortal Kombat' name would be without heavy doses of fighting.
All present agreed that the fight choreography and super-human skills are up to the standards fans would hope for; but when asked which aspect of the series would be the biggest hit with fans, the answer was unanimous:
Ian Anthony Dale: When we went to the screening, whenever a Fatality would happen, we were literally like: 'DAMN!' Straight up, that was our genuine reaction.
Samantha Jo: And we filmed it! We knew it was happening but still it was so good to watch it.
Ian Anthony Dale: Yeah, we knew it was coming but we were like 'oh, what?!' We can't wait for people to see it to see their reactions.
Samantha Jo: So many of the comment from the first season were like, 'where are the fatalities? Where are the fatalities? More violence!' and this delivers.
Ian Anthony Dale: We ratchet up the action, we ratchet the special effects... everything is just better in season 2. We can't wait for people to see it.
They wouldn't provide further details on exactly which Fatalities fans could look forward to seeing in the next season, so there's still time to hope that your personal favorites will make the cut. And given the break from the series NetherRealm is planning to take, the web series may be the primary source for new and shocking Fatalities for longer than fans might like.
What are your hopes for Legacy's second season? Any newer or unlikely Fatalities that you particularly hope to see in live-action, or is it the old favorites at the top of your list? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Mortal Kombat Legacy - Season 2 launches this September on Machinima.
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Follow Andrew on Twitter @andrew_dyce.