While the movie industry is overflowing with massive franchises, there's one genre that never seems to hit the mark: video game movies. Gaming characters and storylines have enthralled audiences for years, and seem to lend themselves well to exciting blockbuster adventures. But more often than not, the result leaves plenty to be desired. This unfortunately includes the classic 90s Mortal Kombat movies, which lacked in story and acting. But they're still beloved by the fandom, who are eager to see the legendary fighters adapted in live-action again. Horror visionary and Aquaman director James Wan is helping to produce the recently announced Mortal Kombat reboot, and is shutting down recent rumors about the film's production. Despite reports of the contrary, Mortal Kombat is still a far way off, and does not have a production date or characters planned. Wan responded on Twitter, saying:
Well, that seems pretty damn clear. Mortal Kombat is still in the earliest stages of development, and there are no plans move forward in the near future. So take a seat and fire up your console of choice, because the franchise's iconic characters are going to live solely in video games for the foreseeable future.
James Wan's recent Tweet is in direct juxtaposition to rumors that swirled around this week. A report indicated that production was moving forward quicker than expected, with the film's principle characters chosen from the large catalogue of fighters. It also claimed that the story would focus on a new character, and that fan favorites like Johnny Cage, Sub-Zero, and Scorpion might be absent. It was a rumor that shocked the fandom, who are likely relieved that Wan set the record straight via social media.
With James Wan helping to produce Mortal Kombat, it's a bit unrealistic to think he'd have any time to work on the video game adaptation. His upcoming DC blockbuster Aquaman is currently in post-production, and he's no doubt hard at work with the editors to finish crafting the film's vision. The pressure is on for the horror icon to deliver another win for the DCEU, which thus far has only had critical success with Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman. As such, Wan is going to have to focus on getting Aquaman into theaters before helping to bring Mortal Kombat to life.
The original Mortal Kombat movie was released back in 1995. While it wasn't a critical success, it grossed an impressive $122.1 million on a budget of $18 million. A sequel was quickly ordered, which unfortunately bombed at the box office. Fans have been waiting a long time for the legendary tournament to return to the movies, so let's hope James Wan's producer powers can make the reboot a reality.
James Wan's Aquaman will arrive in theaters on December 21st, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
