Fans are only a few weeks away from one of the most highly anticipated live-action video game movie reboots of all time. Mortal Kombat, the iconic, brutally gory fighting franchise, reboots itself on the big screen (outdated tropes and all) on April 23rd. This isn't the first time the heroes of Earthrealm have defended the planet in the legendary fighting tournament in a movie, however.

RELATED: Mortal Kombat: 10 Underused Characters With Awesome Backstories

Hollywood took full advantage at the peak of Mortal Kombat's initial video game run, releasing the first live-action movie based on the franchise 26 years ago in 1995. The original film performed very well. The seamless casting of fan-favorite characters added a layer of realism to the storyline, with many fans still associating those performers with their Mortal Kombat roles. They've done a lot since, though!

10 Bridgette Wilson-Sampras: Sonya Blade

Bridgette Wilson as Sonya vs Bridgette Wilson Now

26 years ago, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras (known as Bridgette Wilson back then), burst onto the Hollywood scene playing military powerhouse Sonya Blade. Determined to find her partner's killer, Kano, Wilson-Sampras brought a huge gravitas to the Sonya Blade character. 1995 was a big year for Wilson-Sampras, as fans may also remember her playing third-grade teacher Veronica Vaughn in the Adam Sandler Classic Billy Madison.

In 2008 she married pro tennis player Pete Sampras, with the couple now having two children together. 2008 was also the last time we'd see the 47-year-old on the big screen, as she played her most recent movie role in the film Phantom Punch. Much to the pleasure of franchise fans, she did end up recast as the voice of Sony Blade for Mortal Kombat 11: her first time being associated with the role since the mid-90s.

9 Christopher Lambert: Lord Raiden

Christopher Lambert as Lord Raiden vs Christopher Lambert Now

As one of the marquee names attached to the film, fans in 1995 were excited to see Christopher Lambert playing the role of the Thunder God himself, Lord Raiden. Best known at the time for his 1986 role in the fantasy/adventure film Highlander (opposite the late Sean Connery), Lambert brought a sense of legitimacy to the film. His quiet and coy, yet powerful, portrayal of the protector of Earthrealm rang true to what fans expected from the fighting franchise.

Lambert has maintained a steady stream of acting credits since his portrayal of Raiden, including a Highlander sequel in 2000, a recurring role on NCIS: Los Angeles, and playing Methodius in the Nicholas Cage and Idris Elba film Ghostrider: Spirit of Vengeance in 2011.

8 Robin Shou: Liu Kang

Robin Shou as Liu Kang vs Robin Shou Now

Mortal Kombat's leading man, Robin Shou, played the role of Shaolin monk Liu Kang in the 1995 film. As Mortal Kombat's protagonist and the defender of Earthrealm, Shou was not only required to show off his skills as a martial artist, but needed to prove his acting chops were up to par. Mortal Kombat was Shou's first Hollywood big screen debut.

RELATED: Mortal Kombat: 10 Things Only Liu Kang Fans Know

Shou reprised his role in the film's sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)In the years since, he has also appeared in the fighting game film adaptations DOA: Dead or Alive in 2006,  Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li in 2009, and as 14K in three of the Death Race films. Shou also provided martial arts training for Milla Jovovich for her role in Resident Evil 4: Retribution in 2012 (as Jovovich herself stated on Twitter in August 2011).

7 Linden Ashby: Johnny Cage

Linden Ashby as Johnny Cage vs Linden Ashby Now

What's a good movie without a bit of comedy? That's where fan-favorite Hollywood star Johnny Cage comes in. Known by some at the time for his smaller appearances on Melrose Place and MacGyver, Linden Ashby gave his all in his portrayal of the cocky action-movie star looking to prove himself as a legitimate martial artist. Ashby provided comic relief through Johnny's arrogant persona, but was still able to present the character's deep internal struggle to prove his worth as a fighter.

Ashby's performance in Mortal Kombat set him on a successful and steady path of work in Hollywood, including roles as the Commander in 2013's Iron Man 3, Sheriff Noah Stillinski in 88 episodes of Teen Wolf from 2011-2017, and recurring roles in The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives. Ashby also voiced the Johnny Cage character in Mortal Kombat 11.

6 Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa: Shang Tsung

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Shang Tsung vs Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa Now

Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa played the demonic, shape-shifting sorcerer and antagonist, Shang Tsung. In a role where he was portrayed a lot younger than his character in the first game, Tagawa's Shang Tsung is still a strong fan-favorite, serving as inspiration for later Shang Tsung iterations. Tagawa even reprised the role for the 2013 web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy.

Tagawa has tackled a ton of voice-acting gigs since Mortal Kombat, including Kubo and the Two Strings (2016), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2016), Star Wars Rebels (2017), and Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (2006). Fans may also recognize him from roles in bigger films like Pearl Harbor in 2001, and Memoirs of a Geisha in 2005. His latest film Reagan, an autobiographical piece on the former U.S. President, is slated for a 2022 release.

5 Talisa Soto: Princess Kitana

Talisa Soto as Kitana vs Talisa Soto Now

Princess Kitana, the princess of Outworld, and adopted daughter of the emperor Shao Khan, played a major role in the 1995 motion picture (despite the fact that she wasn't a playable character in the original game). Played by Talisa Soto, Kitana was a pivotal character in the success of Earthrealm's warriors at the Mortal Kombat tournament.

RELATED: Mortal Kombat: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Kitana

She reprised her role as Kitana in Mortal Kombat Annihilation (1997),  and would go on to take select roles in movies and television over the next decade, including the film Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever in 2002 with Lucy Liu and Antonio Banderas. She's currently married to Hollywood actor Benjamin Bratt, who fans may recognize from Miss Congeniality (2000), Ride Along 2 (2016), and Doctor Strange (2016).

4 Trevor Goddard: Kano

Trevor Goddard as Kano vs Trevor Goddard in Pirates of the Caribbean

Trevor Goddard took on the role of Australian mercenary and Black Dragon cartel member, Kano. Goddard found success in Hollywood before and after Mortal Kombat, including roles in films like Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).

He also had a regular role on crime television series JAG, playing Lieutenant Commander Mic Brumby from 1998-2001. Tragically, according to The New York Post, Goddard was found dead from a drug overdose in his North Hollywood home in June of 2003.

3 François Petit: Sub-Zero

Francois Petit as Sub-Zero vs Francois Petit Now

Enigmatic warrior Sub-Zero and Liu Kang went head-to-head in one of the most memorable fights in the 1995 film. The iconic Lin Kuei warrior, who possesses the ability to control and manipulate ice, was played by French actor and martial artist François Petit.

According to IMDb, Petit was one of the physical therapists in the WWE (then WWF) during the mid-90s, best known for being ringside with Mankind in his infamous Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker (he also appeared in the famous 1999 wrestling documentary Beyond the Mat). Petit's most recent on-screen role was in 2010 for the offbeat martial arts comedy Swishbucklers.

2 Chris Casamassa: Scorpion

Chris Casamassa as Scorpion and in Sci-Fighter

The iconic Sorpion will always be the unofficial mascot of the Mortal Kombat franchise. The undead ninja specter's iconic yellow clothing, booming voice, and trademark spear (or snake, as it was re-imagined in the 1995 film) was brought to life by stunt actor and martial artist Chris Casamassa.

The son of American martial arts pioneer Louis D. Casamassa, he leveraged his ability to fight to pick up on-screen acting and stunt roles, in The Karate Kid (1984), Batman & Robin (1997), Blade (1998), Walker: Texas Ranger (2000) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2001). 

1 Keith Cooke: Reptile

Keith Cooke as Reptile vs Keith Cooke Now

Fans of Mortal Kombat were delightfully surprised to see the green, reptilian ninja make his appearance in the film (especially since he was a secret character in the original game). Reptile was played by martial artist and stunt performer Keith Cooke.

While a hugely successful martial artist, Cooke doesn't have many on-screen credits outside of his role in Mortal Kombat. His limited acting and stunt credits include Mortal Kombat: Anihilation (1997), Beverly Hills Ninja (1997), Big Momma's House (2000), and National Security (2003).

NEXT: Mortal Kombat 2021: All Confirmed Characters In The Reboot