The Mortal Kombat movie reboot is fast approaching with a newly confirmed April release date set for theatres and streaming. Actors playing most major characters have been reported, but producer Todd Garner has confirmed the identity of one rumored fighter we didn't necessarily expect: Kabal!
Kiwi stuntman and actor Daniel Nelson will step into the role of the game series' Black Dragon mercenary. His IMDB filmography lists stunt work in the upcoming Godzilla vs King Kong and 2017's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, as well as the upcoming MK role. Garner confirmed the validity of the listing via Twitter when asked by a fan earlier this month.
Daniel Nelson looking the part of the unmasked Kabal in his IMDB profile.
Kabal was first introduced in Mortal Kombat 3 as a survivor of Shao Kahn's invading extermination squads. Wearing a hi-tech respirator mask to survive his injuries, the former Black Dragon mercenary earned a cult following as a reformed fighter wielding dual hookswords, and a high-speed dash attack.
Kabal continued to make many subsequent appearances in the series, including unmasked cameos in adventure spin-offs Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks and deleted scenes from Mortal Kombat: Special Forces. He most recently returned in Mortal Kombat 11, where he was once again in league with the Black Dragon clan.
[Related Article: Mortal Kombat 11 Kabal Trailer]
Australian comedy actor Josh Lawson has been tapped to play Kano opposite fellow Aussie Jessica McNamee as the new Sonya Blade. It is yet to be revealed how Kabal will factor in to the classic rivalry in the 2021 film.
Kabal was previously revealed to feature as an antagonist for Jax in a movie reboot written by Kevin Tancharoen. The Mortal Kombat: Legacy writer/director left the project in 2013. James Wan came on board as a creative producer for the latest incarnation in 2015.
Few details are known about the 2021 adaptation, which will also include Mileena and Nitara in unspecified roles. In an unrelated note, Todd Garner hinted that Joe Taslim will wear a costume with "a lot more detail" than fan-art inspired by the MKX Sub-Zero design. Taslim will play Bi-Han in the film.
What do you hope to see from Kabal in his first theatrical appearance? Share your thoughts and speculation in the comments below. Find and discuss more movie news in the Media & Merchandise forum! Special thanks to MK Online user gorostilllives for posting about this story.
