Beloved Shang Tsung actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa has confirmed his return for the 2015 live-action Mortal Kombat webseries!
Little is known about the new series, announced in conjunction with Warner Bros. new digital content banner Blue Ribbon Content In October.
The actor tweeted, "GOIN' WORK ON "MK LEGACY 3" ON MON. CAN'T WAIT." It is unclear if the new webseries is a direct sequel to 2013's Mortal Kombat: Legacy II, which reintroduced the actor as Shang Tsung [full story], or if this is merely a shorthand reference.
Casting rumors suggest the new series will veer significantly closer to the video game experience than prior works in Legacy. New characters from Mortal Kombat X comics number among the casting roles, along with iconic fighters like Scorpion - previously depicted by Ian Anthony Dale in two series of Legacy - and Bo' Rai Cho. Fellow legacy stars Casper Van Dien (Johnny Cage) and Mark Dacascos (Kung Lao) commenced training last September. Their current status is unknown.
Tagawa first appeared on screen as Shang Tsung in the 1995 major motion picture, Mortal Kombat. The Paul Anderson directed movie celebrates its 20th anniversary in November.
Looking forward to the return? Register to follow and discuss all the webseries news in the Media & Merchandise forum! Support Mortal Kombat Online by connecting and sharing via @MK_Online & Facebook. Special thanks to user Thracian_Tsar for sharing the tip.
We thought he succumbed to a very literal twist of fate, but you can't keep a good Shaolin monk down! Kung Lao returns to battle in Mortal Kombat X - as showcased in a brutal new gameplay trailer! Where has he been and where did he get his new hat? Take a closer look at the new design with classic hat in this official render:
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Kung Lao was to be the first big character reveal for 2015, but the legendary fighting monk managed to sneak out early via Finnish magazine Pelaaja [more]. Whether in magazine, digital screenshot, or video trailer, we're happy to see Kung Lao back in action, sporting the whitened hair of a wise kung fu master!
The new design roots its dark palette in the original appearance of Kung Lao way back in Mortal Kombat II. Selectable Character Variations adapt the blue and black attire, with his trademark hat also getting switched up based on the fighting mode of choice! A jaggedly serrated version gives the smooth razor-edged klassic a dose of malicious millinery intent!
Kung Lao's return raises many questions. Raiden asks where his heroic charge has been in the new trailer - vocalizing what a lot of fans are wondering! Kung Lao was among the long list of klassic kombatants thought dead at the close of Mortal Kombat (2011) - taking a shock neck snap in reference to Liu Kang's surprise death in the original timeline sequel: Deadly Alliance. Could the "Netherrealm War" referenced by the comics be responsible for his apparent resurrection? What part will necromancer Quan Chi play with his army of dead? What ever the reason - we're happy to see Kung Lao back!
- Related Topics on Mortal Kombat Online:
- 01/14/2015 Kitana Returns in Packed Mortal Kombat X Gameplay Trailer
- 01/13/2015 Raiden Quizzes Kung Lao in New MKX Screenshot
- 01/09/2015 Whos Next? Kung Lao Strikes Back in New Screenshot
- 12/31/2014 Pelaaja Magazine Leak Reveals Kung Lao Screenshots
- 10/04/2014 Reintroducing Quan Chi - Official Mortal Kombat X Render
- 08/06/2014 Reintroducing Raiden - Mortal Kombat X Render
- 06/19/2014 Speculation: Will the Dead Rise in Mortal Kombat X?
- 05/31/2014 World Box Toys 1:6 Scale Kung Lao Action Figure Pre-Order
- 03/09/2011 NetherRealm Studios Release Kung Lao and Raiden Renders
He's back! Is it better than ever? Register to share your thoughts, theories and fashion critiques on the Mortal Kombat X forum!
The rightful heir to the Edenian throne is back in the fight! Kitana has made her Mortal Kombat X debut in an exciting new gameplay trailer! The video was the first glimpse of the princess's new design. Take a closer look in this official render:
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If appearances are to be believed, Kitana is the second fighter back from the dead, having suffered a fatal end in the Mortal Kombat (2011) story mode. She shares the trailer spotlight with the other return - Kung Lao - with the identity of this game's Sub-Zero still uncertain.
The new design confirms the second of six mystery kombat boots teased in 2014. Split-toed foot wear with metallic accoutrement spied briefly in the letterbox trailer - part of a stylistic change for the princess after a simplistic redesign in 2011.
This look represents some of the most ornate design work applied to Kitana - a character who hasn't always embodied her royal roots. Plenty of exposed flesh maintains the base qualities of her traditional, swimsuit fighting attire, embellished well with a long overdue presence of royal blue fabric. An assortment of armor plates and decorative metals lend more weight and elegance to the look. There's a slight piecemeal quality to the disparate elements, but it both lends a sense of realism, and seems to compliment the grittiness of Mortal Kombat X's post-apocalyptic tone.
Kitana voice actress Karen Strassman was first attached to return in Mortal Kombat X last April. The actress may have prematurely added the Mortal Kombat sequel to her resume - giving us the first whiff of MKX and its returning cast. No word on whether MK2011 survivor Mileena will come with her genetic precursor. Some fans are already speculating this may in fact be a disguised Mileena - an idea that has played out in previous games' plot, but never from the perspective of the player.
- Related Topics on Mortal Kombat Online:
- 01/14/2015 Kitana Returns in Packed Mortal Kombat X Gameplay Trailer
- 01/14/2015 Whos Next? Goro & Kano Screenshots Tease Video
- 10/04/2014 Reintroducing Quan Chi - Official Mortal Kombat X Render
- 09/22/2014 Feature: Before MKX - The Other Outcome of Mortal Kombat 4
- 08/31/2014 Who's Next? 6 Character Boot Teaser Sparks Footprint Analysis
- 06/19/2014 Introducing Kotal Kahn - Mortal Kombat X Loading Screen
- 06/19/2014 Speculation: Will the Dead Rise in Mortal Kombat X?
- 06/15/2014 E3 2014: Lead Designer John Edwards has fun with AV Club
- 05/26/2014 Kountdown: 10 Returning Kombatants Ready to Kontinue!
- 04/30/2014 Kitana Voice Actress Karen Strassman Returning for Sequel?
- 04/11/2012 Full Fight Anywhere Live-Action Kitana Vita Trailer
- 03/21/2011 Toys R Us Offering Exclusive Retro Kitana DLC Costume!
- 01/14/2011 Kitana and Mileena Renders and Music Released!
Get the full Kitana experience by watching the full trailer! Register to share your opinions and follow the news on the Mortal Kombat X forum!
[Update Pending] Goro lives! Discuss the trailer on the forum.
Kung Lao & Raiden won't be the only fighters turning up in a much talked about Mortal Kombat X video preview [later today]. The klassic heroes were teased in a new sub-titled screenshot from the clip - now it's the original bad guys' turn!
We're reasonably certain that's pre-order incentive Goro still lurking in the shadows. The Shokan Prince is solicited to battle Kotal Kahn is issue #3 of the new DC Comics series [full story], but his exact allegiances remain unknown.
Kano has already played a part in the comics story - set between Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat X. He's causing trouble for one of the series' iconic personas [Chapter One Review], which may explain a lingering shoulder at the bottom of the brutal screenshot. An August character trailer revealed the rogue's new look and style.
Mortal Kombat X arrives on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 & PC April 14, 2015. Register to share your theories for these characters on the forum, and be on the Mortal Kombat X forum tomorrow for the expected trailer reveal!
