An avatar change isn't usually considered news, but when there's a vacuum of reliable Mortal Kombat information, and you're franchise figurehead Ed Boon, your slightest tweak inspires special significance for 367,000 rabid followers!

As the 25th year of Mortal Kombat draws toward an end; Boon made the switch from a celebratory anniversary dragon logo [pictured below left], to something reflecting the two major franchises he oversees with NetherRealm Studios: Scorpion from Mortal Kombat X, and Batman of the DC Comics Injustice stable!

More accurately - the Batman on display appears to be Ben Affleck, who starred in divisive DC Extended Universe films: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. The latter inspired cross-promotional character skins for Injustice 2, released late last November.

Though interesting as a representative choice; Boon has never hidden his long time DC fandom, or interest in the live-action films! He noted Affleck's casting in 2013, got excited about the newest Batmobile in 2014, and was enthusiastic when a solo film was announced in 2016.

In the past: Boon has used social media dressing to tease new projects and disc pressings, but fan theories about a second crossover game may be premature. When asked about a Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe sequel, the developer shot it down with a simple answer: "no". The explanation for the change, all together more simple than that:

Old one was outdated. It’s as simple as that. https://t.co/6a61W871kk

— Ed Boon (@noobde) July 15, 2018

Like the stylemakers of Hollywood and Paris; Boon is always likely to influence followers, and generate plenty of discussion when he debuts a new Twitter look. He's usually pretty straight with fans when he shoots something down, recently targeting false Mortal Kombat movie reports.

Boon discussed the friction between what's expected of the MK and DC franchises back in 2012. He deemed a crossover sequel "not likely" as recently as 2016 [full story]. Instead, NetherRealm has found success with downloadable guest appearances by Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Raiden in the Injustice game franchise.

The cryptic significance of his latest choice will no doubt linger in the minds and speculation of fans, at least until a new game is announced. The NetherRealm head has already ruled out any announcements at this month's San Diego Comic-Con International.

[Related Article: Editorial: The MKvsDC Crossover Nobody Sees Coming]

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Fandom reacted strongly to recent widespread rumors about the Mortal Kombat movie reboot, and its reported cast of characters. The outcry has drawn an equally strong response from those close to the project, with producer James Wan, and NetherRealm Creative Head Ed Boon, shooting down various reports.

Please don’t be so easily baited by faux information. Good & bad news: nothing is happening yet. Literally. Still in early development. Anyone who tells you the movie is location scouting or casting is trolling you. #MK

— James Wan (@creepypuppet) July 12, 2018

Lot of BS information floating around about the next Mortal Kombat movie. Don’t believe everything you read. pic.twitter.com/euPulaspvc

— Ed Boon (@noobde) July 13, 2018

The godfather figures join writer Greg Russo, who was quick to contextualize a leaked list of characters, shooting down controversial changes to Sonya & Raiden, among others.

As previously reported by MK Online; Broken Road Productions' Todd Garner also called news from the film "premature". Like Wan, he clarified "[n]othing is happening with the movie at this time". The film is currently listed on the Broken Road website as in pre-production.

Nothing is happening with the movie at this time, so all news is premature. Sorry!

— Todd Garner (@Todd_Garner) July 10, 2018

Although the notorious character list appears to have been rooted in fact, based upon early drafts of the script -- some sites have also been reporting unsubstantiated rumors about location scouting, and filming in Chicago. These claims were specifically targeted as false by Wan.

At a 2016 Television Critics Event, the Furious 7 and Aquaman director stated an intent to take care: "The key here is to try and do it right. I don't want to rush into it. So right now, we're just trying to take our time to make sure it's heading in the right direction. I think that's more important than trying to rush through it and pump up something that no one likes." News of his role as Producer broke in August, 2015.

[Related Article: Oren Uziel Discusses Mortal Kombat Movie Script]

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Greg Russo is a writer currently tackling the next Mortal Kombat big screen reboot, but after a list of characters leaked, he's also been writing his fair share of rumor killing tweets!

The writer already addressed widespread rumors, shooting down their validity based on generations of the rewritten script, and inaccuracies in the original report. In his latest message to fans, Russo targeted two of the worrisome character changes since excised by the creative process.

While I can't talk about any current or specific plot points, I think it's safe to say that Sonya being a "writer" and Raiden appearing as a teen boy were both given one of these quite some time back. Rest easy, MK faithful. pic.twitter.com/wiOcXNi5sE

— Greg Russo (@WriterRusso) July 12, 2018

Raiden's portrayal in live-action has been varied. He was memorably defined by Christophe Lambert, whose sarcastic overseer guided Earthrealm's heroes through the 1995 feature film. This wisecracking thunder god was bound by rules, usually limited to threats of his godlike power. James Remar infamously leapt into kombat with a mid-movie makeover in Annihilation, before Jeffrey Meek explored Lambert-esque layers of comedy and gravitas, in the Mortal Kombat: Conquest television series.

Raiden was said to relinquish his godly powers to participate in mortal fighting from the very first game. The '95 film introduced Raiden to the big screen disguised as a beggar, which may have inspired the now excised concept of assuming the guise of a 14 year old boy.

Kevin Tancharoen infamously cast Ryan Robbins as the thunder god for the sixth episode of the Mortal Kombat: Legacy webseries. The episode began with a disclaimer, warning fans about the "realistic" portrayal of Raiden as a patient in a mental asylum.

Sonya Blade was thrust into the first game's plot as a US Special Forces agent on the hunt for Kano. Bridgette Wilson-Sampras arrived at the '95 movie tournament very much as it was portrayed in the game, and comic book by Mortal Kombat co-creator John Tobias.

Sonya's reported role as a prophecy-seeking writer has similarly been cut, but wouldn't be the first time the character was changed. The Legacy webseries retained the basics of Sonya's well known plot for its opening episode(s), but recast Jeri Ryan, and Michael Jai White (Jax), as metropolitan police officers from a fictional city.

Sonya Blade as she appears in Mortal Kombat X.

Though the character list was clearly rooted in fact, Russo has already shot down other mistakes in detail, such as Liu Kang as a "ninja", and the absence of Sub-Zero and Scorpion. The message remains one of assurance to die hard fans. The inclusion of a Mortal Kombat II fatality a clear gesture.

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Reports of a rumored character list for the next Mortal Kombat movie have had everybody talking, but the most important voice may be Greg Russo's.

The writer of the film took to Twitter to respond to concerns raised by the leaked information, clarifying that the list was based on an earlier version of the script, and only partially accurate.

And... DEEP BREATH, everyone. 1) This is NOT the full list of characters. 2) This is BASED off an older version of the script and lastly 3) 全蠍人 & 絶対零度 Forever ;) ... Also who wrote those descriptions? Tweet me if you need some pointers.

— Greg Russo (@WriterRusso) July 10, 2018

Russo also addressed concerns and errors found in the original report, specifically mocking the listing of Jax as "Jackson Bridges" (instead of Briggs), and the description of Shaolin fighting monk Liu Kang as a "ninja".

Details inconsistent with the established characters were a natural point of contention for die hard fans, but they may be artefacts from the writer of the original article, or the "telephone game" of second-hand information. Russo cast further doubt on the information's veracity: "I have no idea where those descriptions came from... but certainly not from anyone involved in the project."

Despite the mistaken details, the list wasn't completely without merit, even if rooted in redundant information: "They got some stuff right and whiffed on most of it." Some characters described have since been excised from the script, while a prominent icon like Sub-Zero -- who was missing from the report -- will be "kicking all sorts of (frozen) ass."

On the inclusion of more obscure fighters from the series, the writer adds: "It's a tricky thing. Because you don't just want to throw characters in for no reason. Everyone has to have to have a reason and a moment to shine. (read: kick ass)".

Thanks! An insane amount of love & care has already gone into the project. As I guy who used to rule the arcade machine (Kitana all day), it's in VERY good hands. Hopefully we get to make it soon...

— Greg Russo (@WriterRusso) July 10, 2018

You mean he's not Jeff Bridges' long lost brother? - The only thing worse is claiming Liu Kang is a ninja... If I actually thought that, you can go ahead and revoke my membership to the White Lotus Society. ;)

— Greg Russo (@WriterRusso) July 11, 2018

Familiarity and arcade credentials are a big part of Greg Russo's damage control mesage to fans. It's no guarantee the final product will appease dyed in the wool fandom, and moviegoers alike, but it comes as timely reminder that films go through many stages before reaching the big screen.

Mortal Kombat is currently in pre-production, with James Wan's Atomic Monster Productions and Todd Garner & Jeremy Stein (Broken Road) producing. Lawrence Kasanoff (Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation) will executive produce. Simon McQuoid is expected to make his feature directorial debut. There is no release date as yet.

[Related Article: From Sprite to Screen: How Mortal Kombat Invaded Hollywood]

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A Mortal Kombat theatrical reboot has been in the works for much of the last decade, but the most recent phase only began in 2015, with news James Wan was attached to produce.

A first-time director soon followed, but substantial information has been scarce in the eighteen months since, leading to a smattering of conflicting rumors, misinformation, and unsubstantiated reports.

That Hashtag Show claims uncredited exclusive information from a new script by confirmed writer Greg Russo, who is also working on several other video game related projects, including: a Resident Evil reboot, and F.E.A.R. adaptation for Warner Digital's Machinima channel.

The story centers around a list of characters led by "Cole Turner" -- a Philadelphia boxer, and father, reportedly created to lead the movie.

If true: the new invention may be conceived as an entry point character, who will discover the Mortal Kombat universe as surrogate for the audience. With just a hint of Rocky to inform the concept, he may also provide the film a meaningful lead character to kill for a more bloodthirsty adaptation.

Cole Turner
Lead Male. 30s. A brand new character to the MK franchise. Cole is a struggling and widowed boxer who cares more about his young daughter than anything. He is incredibly determined and refuses to quit in the face of fantastical adversity.

This Cole Turner presumably has no relation to the character Julian McMahon played for several years on TV's Charmed. The reported full character list boasts some surprising inclusions that will please hardcore fans, such as Drahmin, Nitara, and Reiko, but notable alterations to iconic fighters will be less well received.

The pursuit of the tournament's "prophecy" recasts Sonya Blade as a brainy writer, Raiden as a 14 year old boy named Jin, Jax Briggs as "Jackson Bridges" - a mercenary who loses his hands, Liu Kang as a "ninja warrior" whose brother Kung Lao is mute, and Kabal as an Outworld assassin.

The rumors have a whiff of inauthenticity, but deviations like these from Mortal Kombat's established plotlines have been consistent through every iteration of live-action adaptation. Even Paul W. Anderson's lauded 1995 film wrestled with established canon, restoring popular aspects, such as the iconic rivalry between Scorpion and Sub-Zero, only after test screenings. The mascot pairing are notably absent from the published list.

Prior to his exit from the project in 2013; webseries director Kevin Tancharoen laughed off rumors his version of the movie would feature Liu Kang as a supermarket clerk. His vision for Mortal Kombat: Legacy never the less went out of its way to radically alter iconic characters, and the world of the game. Liu Kang was a violent sociopath recruited by Shang Tsung when he eventually appeared in the second season.

James Wan professed his appreciation for the classic Mortal Kombat characters while commenting on a need to "get it right", and explaining measured efforts, at a 2016 television event. What that means for a final adaptation remains to be seen.

Update: Todd Garner, Head of Broken Road Productions, who presently list Mortal Kombat as in pre-production on their website, noted via Twitter that any news is premature. While not a denial about the direction of the Russo script, it highlights the fluid process that movie development frequently goes through.

Nothing is happening with the movie at this time, so all news is premature. Sorry!

— Todd Garner (@Todd_Garner) July 10, 2018

Contemporary pop culture is dominated by proven brands, with Hollywood especially fond of loose adaptations, and nostalgic reboots. Mortal Kombat boasts a bit of both, with added potential to time the release of a new game with a feature film. Like Warner Brothers' efforts with DC Comics: the biggest hurdle to MK's success may simply lie in delivering an adaptation that embraces what made the series a success in the first place. Spielberg's Ready Player One provided a proof of concept earlier in the year, giving audiences a taste with authentic Mortal Kombat X cameos.

[Related Article: Retrospective: The Mortal Kombat Cinematic Universe]

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