Mortal Kombat X was one of the most successful installments in the long running franchise, but if you somehow missed out on one of the five million copies shipped -- you can get a taste for blood by playing via Xbox Live weekend for freeeeee!

A download of Mortal Kombat X will usually set you back $19.99, but Free Play Days will give weekend free access to Xbox Live Gold members! The freeplay fun goes from 12:01AM Thursday, March 7th through to 11:59PM Sunday, March 10th!

It's all in the name of getting ready for the release of Mortal Kombat 11! Closed beta begins March 28th if you've pre-ordered for Xbox One or PlayStation 4. Preparing yourself by jumping back to the last game? Revisit the recent past in the Mortal Kombat X forum and put out a call for opponents on the Gameplay & Matchmaking forum!

Development of the Mortal Kombat movie reboot has been slow and steady, but with writer Greg Russo hyping meetings with Warner Brothers, a fresh report claims a frontrunner for the role of Kano, and new character details.

We have a script, budget, location, director, and cast lists. But we still need WB to give us the go-ahead. Meeting with them again soon.???? If you want to see MK back on the big screen, now's the time to let your voice be heard ;) #MK #MortalKombat #MortalKombat11

— Greg Russo (@WriterRusso) March 4, 2019

Russo tweeted about meetings with WB executives, citing a completed script, budget, location, director, and cast list, aiming for a 2020 big screen release. That Hashtag Show claims to know at least some of these details, reporting Joel Edgerton as top choice to assume the role of Kano.

A well known good-guy of Australian cinema: Edgerton has had several memorable starring roles in Hollywood productions, including 2011 martial arts drama Warrior, Red Sparrow, and the recent Boy Erased, which he also wrote and directed. The report claims announced director Simon McQuoid would recruit Edgerton for a script still revolving around previously rumored new creation Cole Turner, to begin filming in Australia in the Summer.

The report also narrows the cast of characters to a more expected (and correctly named & described) list, featuring: Raiden, Sonya Blade, Jackson "Jax" Briggs, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Sub-Zero, Mileena, and Shang Tsung. The only likely fan quibbles to come from published, basic character descriptions are Shang Tsung as "Outworld's General", and the peculiar verbiage of Sub-Zero as "The ice ninja with deadly eyes hidden behind a gruesome mask".

While the veracity of previous reports was verified by those close to production, the ifnormation was described as being significantly out of date. That Hashtag Show came under heavy fire from the likes of producer James Wan, and Ed Boon, who shot down reports as "faux information" and "BS". All information should be regarded as rumor until otherwise substantiated.

Die hard fans remain tentative about Mortal Kombat's return to the big screen. Hollywood is notorious for casting aside key details and nuance for video game adaptations, as was the case in the most recent live-action adaptation of Mortal Kombat: Legacy. Discuss what you hope to see from the future of MK in movies on the Media & Merchandise forum!

Next generation kombatant Cassie Cage is dropping in to Mortal Kombat 11 in the latest character reveal trailer! Study all her moves as she takes on Kano in an official gameplay debut twofer! Watch:

Cassie Cage has been a busy girl, featured in a press blitz of official character render art, story mode trailer, story mode screenshots, and spotlights on customization and intro dialogues!

The gameplay reveal trailer is the only place to get a good feel for Cassie Cage and her new bag of tricks. She's fighting dirty with pistols, a laser blasting drone named Emma, and tweaked variations on her parent's special moves. She's even revolutionizing the art of her father's testicle punch, leaving the splits to her opponents!

Kano is retro-klassic romper stomper with your favourite cannonball dash and cyber eye laser moves, as well as a dirty dozen of boots and headbutts. It looks like he'll be talking trash while he kicks your arse - and yes, mate. That is a bloody knife.

Mortal Kombat 11 iscoming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC in just over a month! Pre-order now to gain four days of Beta access beginning May 28th! Will you play Cassie or Kano? Share your thoughts on the latest trailers on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

Cassie Cage made her triumphant return leading the fight for the future in a new Story Mode Trailer! Now you can get a more personal look at her fresh Mortal Kombat 11 design - and robot buddy! Check it out:

According to character customization menus you can call Cassie's friendly drone Emma! As featured in Gamespot's customization preview there are other drones available to choose, including Frank Thompson, Queen Bee, and Tiny Dancer. It looks like Emma will be the favourite if this slick art is anything to go by.

We first caught a glimpse of Cassie Cage in the MK11 Evolution Featurette, and you can now see even more in official hi-res story mode screenshots and IGN's Cage Family Intro highlights!

You can also catch-up with more character render art for Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, Kano, D'Vorah and more! Join the discussion about the latest designs and more on the Mortal Kombat 11 forum!

Ever had a sense of deja vu? Would you like to..? Pre-match intro dialogues have become a font of character moments and story easter eggs. Mortal Kombat 11 is chattier than ever and IGN have a 7 minute sample starring the dynamic father-daughter duo of Johnny & Cassie Cage! Watch:

The irreverent Cage double-act are quipping fighting words and striking a pose -- the same pose, again and again... Fortunately, repetition isn't a major issue when duplicate match-ups feature all-new dialogues! It's a cavalcade of giggles and gratuitous movie references, with some interesting tidbits thrown in for good measure.

Apparently former President Ronald Reagan is one of the few actors to really impress Geras over the centuries, even if he can quote Rutger Hauer's legendary speech from Blade Runner. Scorpion isn't concerned with black & yellow brand confusion caused by D'Vorah, but will kill Cassie for taking his catchphrase. Sonya Blade hasn't seen When Harry Met Sally, gets goosebumps just thinking about papercuts, and isn't any more smitten with "cheap beer" Johnny, even if Cassie says he gets better with age. Cages young and old are developing a twin cops action feature with the working title Double Something, and are fans of Austin Powers. Lots of fun character beats and laughs, but if you want to avoid meatier matter and potential spoilers, stop reading now!

Geras claims he met Johnny Cage's ancestors "many centuries ago" during one of his "billion" life cycles, presumably the same ones who were bred to defeat gods. Despite that mythic bloodline, according to Raiden, it was the amulet that really finished Shinnok off. Skarlet never the less considers Cassie's blood to be holy, and blessed by the Elder Gods.

Apparently trusting Raiden cost Cassie Cage her mother at some point. Most of the featured dialogues present Sonya Blade as her younger self, yet to hook up with Johnny, which may mean the hardened General of MKX meets her untimely demise. You can see Sonya and Cassie in action in the new Story Mode Trailer.

It looks like character intros are going to be another highlight when the new game ships for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC starting April 23rd! Have your own dialogue and share your thoughts on these intros and more on the Mortla kombat 11 forum!