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[SE++ Writes a Movie] Mortal Kombat: A Cinematic Universe
Zonugal
(He/Him) The Holiday ArmadilloI'm Santa's representative for all the southern states. And Mexico!Registered User regular
(He/Him) The Holiday ArmadilloI'm Santa's representative for all the southern states. And Mexico!Registered User regular
So, @Chincymcchilla and myself have been posting a bit about what a new Mortal Kombat movie/franchise would look like, and I think its time we really open up our brainstorming to the forums.
Cinematic Universes are a huge thing right now and with the mega-success of Deadpool I'd say an R-rated Mortal Kombat series could do great things.
So join us in this writing exercise. Chincy is going to outline some of the backstory/lore of the series in these first couple of posts, and then we can start chatting.
Or in other words...
LET US WRITE!!!!!
+12
Posts
So in case you want to participate but really don't know anything about Mortal Kombat, I've prepared a background of the history of the setting.
I'm still working on a post with faction/character information but for now, this is everything you should need to know about the big events in MK, from pre-history up through MKX
Editor's Note: Keep in mind that MK9 basically pulled a Star Trek Reboot and changed the timeline while keeping all the history. I have written this from the perspective of the current timeline, and you don't really need to worry about the stuff that was changed. If you have questions about it though feel free to ask.
Quick shoutout to the Mortal Kombat Wiki for letting me confirm details but most of this is off the top of my head:
I'm working on a post about locations/Factions, since if someone wanted to write about one of the factions you really wouldn't need a full history but could use a quick rundown of the different groups that are active in the MK universe. If anyone has any questions about the story or anything else that I haven't answered here, just let me know!
Earthrealm
Since time immemorial, Earthrealm has been under the protection of Raiden, with occasional help from other gods such as Fujin. More recently, groups such as the White Lotus, reformed Lin Kuei, and Special Forces have also been dedicated to the protection of the realm.
Though Earthrealm outwardly seems very similar to our version of Earth, there are some major differences. Millions of years ago when Shinnok rebelled against the Elder Gods and attempted to take over Earthrealm, the planet was nearly shattered. Shinnok’s fight with Raiden and the Elder Gods on earth is what caused the mass extinction in the late Cretaceous. This caused the exodus of Earthrealm’s other native sentient species besides humans, the Saurians, who fled to Outworld.
Since the invasion of Earthrealm by Shao Kahn, the realm has changed significantly: multiple human governments have banded together to form the Earthrealm Special Forces and protect the planet from outside invasion. Nations and conflict still exist internally, but the world is largely at peace with itself as it deals with outside threats.
Earthrealmers are short lived compared to denizens of the other realms and have very little magical aptitude compared to most other species. While magical ability is rare, it is not unknown, as Lui Kang and Johnny cage are both known to have magical abilities.
Making up for their lack of magical prowess, Earthrealm technology is HIGHLY advanced compared to most of the other realms (save Orderrealm). The Special Forces uses technological portals to travel from realm to realm. Highly advanced weaponry, bionic strength enhancements, and cybernetic implants are all fairly common. This weaponry is highly coveted by some Outworld citizens, and is sometimes sold to them by factions such as the Black Dragon.
Notable Factions:
-Lin Kuei
-Shirai Ryu
-White Lotus
-Black Dragon
-Red Dragon
Species:
-Humans
-Saurians
-Cyborgs
-Gods
Outworld
Since the first ruler of Outworld, Onaga the Dragon King, the seat of power has always been obsessed with controlling and conquering the other realms, up to and including Shao Kahn. However, Ko’Tal Kahn so far has not shown this inclination. This has been revealed to be because the echoes of the One Being’s will had been influencing the Kahns to try to bring the Realms together, but its influence has since faded.
Outworld is a large realm of varying landscapes. Their primary landscapes appear to consist of barren, purple wastelands, deserts, pools of acid, dense forests with animated faces, and high, mysterious mountain peaks. Given the treacherous terrain its possible for ‘neighbors’ to never leave their own villages and visit other nearby inhabitants. Large portions of Outworld remain completely unexplored, or at least un-recorded, as record and bookkeeping are nearly unheard of outside of the Imperial Palace.
Notable Factions:
-Ko’Tal Kahn’s Kingdom
-Mileena’s Rebels
Species:
-Kytinn
-Symbiotes
-Outworlder
-Shokan
-Tarkatan
-Centurian
-Osh-Tekk
-Vampire
-Cryomancer
-Dragons
Edenia
Edenia shared many similarities with Earthrealm including similar vegetation and climate, a similar system of gods and religions (Edenia was defended by the god Argus, similar to how Earthrealm is defended by Raiden). Its population were similar in temperament and moral values to those of Earth, valuing family, honor, and friendship, as opposed to the much more warlike Outworlders.
Eventually, Shao Kahn won Mortal Kombat with Edenia and absorbed the realm into Outworld. After slaying her husband Jarrod, he married Sindel to legitimize his rule and forced her daughter, Kitana, and multiple members of the royal court into his household. Eventually Sindel rebelled against Shao Kahn and was killed until she was later resurrected as an evil Revenant.
(Editors note: The lore is EXTREMELY unclear on what, exactly, happened to Edenia after being conquered. Sometimes it’s portrayed as though it’s in the same physical location as Outworld now and simply under Shao Kahn’s rule, sometimes it still exists in its own plane but under the Kahn’s rule, and sometimes its absorbed into Outworld. In all cases, Edenia no longer exists as its own independent realm.)
Notable Factions:
-Edenian Royal Family
-Edenian Knights & Imperial Guard
Species:
-Edenians
Netherrealm
Millennia ago Shinnok's amulet was banished here. He worked through the Sorcerer Quan Chi, an Oni and resident of Netherrealm, to depose the ruler of Netherrealm and install Quan Chi as its monarch, who created the group known as the Brotherhood of Shadows to rule over it and to work toward the empowerment of their true god, Shinnok. (Chincy's Note: Some Apocrypha straight up calls the former leader Lucifer, so there you go.)
The region is home to lakes of fire, pits of endless spikes and corpses, and prisons of damned souls that span off into the horizon. Noone is really privvy to the machinations of exactly how the realm works, but Shinnok and Quan Chi are its unquestioned rulers.
Residents of Netherrealm have sometimes found themselves in alliance with Outworld, as its tendancies to want to conquer the other realms often mirror the ambitions of Netherrealms various leaders over the ages. Quan Chi famously struck a deal with Shao Kahn that decieved Shao for the benefit of Quan Chi and the Netherrealm. As a side note, though it may seem a natural fit, they are not friendly to the Chaosrealm, as Netherrealms denizens desire order and control.
Beyond all manner of hellish creatures, the sentient species who dwell in the Netherrealm are the Oni (or Demons), humanoid creatures like Quan Chi, though some have more monstrous forms, like Drahmin. These are the most powerful in both thought and magic, and generally have a higher status than the mindless scrabbling monsters of Hell.
In addition to the Oni, Netherrealm is home to the Revenants (such as Scorpion and the resurrected heroes of earth after Mortal Kombat 9). Sometimes called Wraiths or Spectres, Revenants are resurrected warriors who have fallen in kombat. They are not zombies, as zombies have no free will. Revenants can think and reason, though their logic and thoughts are tainted by the one who brought them back, usually Quan Chi.
Notable Factions:
-Brotherhood of Shadow
Races:
-Demons/Oni
-Revenants
-Zombies
-Monsters
Chaosrealm
Chaosrealm possesses geographical features that seem to defy the laws of physics, such as floating rock formations. Chaosrealmers use highly advanced portals to travel between the formations. Apparently, Chaosrealm is said to have been a normal world until at some point in the distant past, the God of Chaos unleashed "the Tempest." This was responsible for the realm's transformation and its fragmentation, and is also thought to have caused collective amnesia among the inhabitants of the realm.
The native species of Chaosrealm are known as Chaosrealmers. Chaosrealmers are humanoid in form and come across as dangerous, primitive, and menacing. Some bear tattoos, strange markings or even more extreme expressions of their ultimate individualism, such as Havik's maimed face or his ability to twist his own bones and muscles in ways that would be lethal to any normal human. This, and the Chaosrealmers' apparent lack of regard for death or life, calls into question whether death truly exists on Chaosrealm, although it is said by random denizens that death is the ultimate chaos as all systems shut down and collapse.
Chaosrealmers view randomness and aimless walking as a positive action. A good example of this behavior and attributes is, according to some Chaosrealmers, many enjoy playing a 'game' called 'Everybody Runs Around,' where the objective is to run around aimlessly rather than compete, as it has no rules. They also apparently worship water, and it may be the one thing they hold sacred because of its shapelessness and that it takes no form, characteristics considered by Chaosrealmers to be chaotic.
Havik is the only notable inhabitant of Chaosrealm. As a Cleric of Chaos, he used his power and the Kamidogu to sow discord in Outworld and nearly brought back Shinnok in an attempt to sow chaos through all the realms.
Notable Factions:
-Clerics of Chaos
Races:
-Chaosrealmers
Orderrealm
Thus far, the only known species inhabiting Orderrealm are Seidans. Seidans are humanoid in form, but like many other species in the realms of Mortal Kombat, possess greater affinities with magic and likely have a longer life expectancy. They are obsessed with structure and organization, which has lead to the fact they seem to care more about abstract things than they do about life and death, which makes them, curiously, a lot like the Chaosrealmers. Despite the egalitarian, clear outlook of their society, Seidans are tense people and many have reservations about their ruling caste, as is demonstrated by the Seidan Resistance movement.
According to the Seidan Guardsmen, freedom is disallowed because 'freedom leads to anarchy, anarchy leads to Chaos, Chaos leads to suffering.' As a result, Seido has innovated strict laws, making the realm safe, but difficult to reside. Though many Seidans feel safe in the realm, some believe the laws are too harsh, as Seido's citizens can face years of imprisonment for breaking a mere curfew, an offense considered minor by citizens of other realms, and even by some Seidan citizens. Despite being a safe realm, Seido is marked by a constant strife between the Seidan Guard and the armed Resistance, therefore resulting in many riots initiated by the Resistance. Both sides are equally ruthless and manipulative in their conflicts.
Notable Factions:
-Seidan Guardsmen
-Seidan Resistance
Races:
-Seidans
Faction information to come!
This is off to an ominous start
Hey Wyborn
You know your encyclopedic knowledge of Zelda
This is my jam
Zonugal these are such great ideas
One of the best things about Mortal Kombat as a property is that it can support a bunch of different tones. That first film would be a pretty deadly serious kung fu film, the second a magical buddy cop movie, and the third would be
well, amazing
In current game canon, Johnny Cage is good friends with Sub-Zero, so much so that he sends his daughter to him for training. Scorpion and Sub-Zero have a tentative understanding based on the fact that Sub-Zero discovered it was quan chi who is responsible for his family's death, the Lin Kuei were just the instrument. But they've still hated each other for decades.
Throwing Johnny in to help them get over their differences would be pretty fantastic.
Would the movie have a larger conflict because them burying the hatchet and then the three of them having to team up to stop something, Sub Zero and Scorpion begrudgingly realizing that A) they like each other and
I guess this thread will do
I genuinely believe that MK is ripe for further media, be it films, tv, or just adventure games that let you explore things more
It has a breadth to it a lot of properties don't, there are SO MANY areas you could expand on
My dream project is actually Jade Empire set in the MK setting
Tanya/Mileena is a really interesting pair
They genuinely seem to like each other but both have such crazy ambitions that it sort of seems like a doomed relationship no matter where they go with it, but when they are together they're really fun
I'd watch a Tanya/Mileena... romcom/court intrigue film?
Tanya working for a free Edenia, Mileena trying to take over outworld, both of them trying to make it work at the same time?
I like this
You have the president working with the Black Dragon since they know Outworld and they'll do anything for money, that sets up your sympathy early: The government is working with KANO!?!?
So you have Sonya go rogue and maybe drag Johnny with her since she's pressed for allies and he's an idiot and will do anything for her
She meets up with Kitana and Jade and they fight for the innocent across all the realms, with their bumbling sidekick Johnny
Maybe Jax has to struggle with his loyalty to the USA but eventually comes over, you can have that angle?
Okay, well...
We need to nail down the first film before heading into too many details of films past that.
Because I feel like the first Mortal Kombat film needs to have certain weight to it as it is a deadly martial arts competition, so characters do need to die. I propose that while Kang, Cage & Blade are trying to save the day (and thus why they agree into the tournament) both Sub-Zero (the 1st) and Scorpion are manipulated into entering by Shang Tsung as he's betting on these two guys causing way too much chaos for Earthrealm (and Raiden). So we do get a battle between them and Scorpion emerges victorious (and thus the Sub-Zero who we see in all the other films is either the 1st's brother/son/friend/padawan).
So with that in mind I think a fun way of Cage bringing these two parties is:
We see many different versions of the initial conflict between both clans, from each perspective, till in the end Cage just dissects their stories because having been in some bad movies he can tell when something just doesn't make any sense. And through his mediation they discover that Scorpion is a pawn in someone else's plan for Earthrealm.
I don't know? Thoughts?
Most of the lore has it now that Outworld is full of regular folks trying to get by, its just all the sorcerers and warlords and shit making them all look bad
Outworld is a really interesting setting
Its filled with a bunch of different races and societies, but the level of technology is low and the landscape is so harsh that most of the time people who just live in villages never interact with other villagers. You definitely have a lot of warlike beings but a lot of them just live by hunting and your typical outworlder is, as you say, just trying to get by.
For every Honor hungry Shokan or Flesh Hungry Tarkatan, you have a outworlder just tryin to sell fish at market and not accidentally anger a member of the royal guard or whatever, they are very fuedal china serf-ish
Liu Kang
Soyna Blade
Johnny Cage
Raiden
Sub-Zero
Scorpion
Kano
Reptile
Goro
Shang Tsung
It stays true to the first game and also cuts down on having a shit-load of characters to follow.
Thoughts?
This is actually pretty close to what they have right now:
The Lin Kuei are being maniuplated through a shitty grandmaster into a bad deal with outworld. In addition, Quan Chi hires them to murder sub-zero's clan.
Bi-Han (Sub Zero 1) is kind of a douche and gleefully kills Scorpions family. Scorpion blames the Lin Kuei as a whole for the extermination of his clan. Eventually Sub-Zero the second (Kuai Lang) discovers that Quan Chi was the one who hired them. He reforms the Lin Kuei and tells Scorpion.
So in this version that you've cooked up, we show both perspectives that they initially believe to be true, and Cage says yeah this is bad plot and doesn't add up
Maybe younger Sub-Zero puts it together and Scorpion gives him a little leash to prove it?
Cage tags along because he knows a good story when he hears one.
We get the three trying to infiltrate the friggin neatherrealm to prove that Quan Chi is the one responsible
Ehhh... I'd rather this film stay in Earthrealm as the other two non-tournament ones are realms heavy.
Plus I want that story for another movie down the road.
I think this works pretty well. You have the core good guys, you have scorpion and sub-zero start off as kind of faceless goons on Outworld's side but then develop them as having konflict, and end with Scorpion killing Sub-Zero. (maybe as the first fatality?)
Kano serves as part of the instigating factor to why they are there, Reptile can be a weird creepy dude who represents the Outworld as a whole
Shang Tsung is your main antagonist, and Goro works for him but also hints that Shang isn't the top dog, as he really works for his true master, Shao Kahn
I think thats a solid cast for a first movie
Probably set up both Kung Lao and Jax as background characters in a scene or two but they don't need to feature
I still like having him still be the super-ancestor of the first Earth champion, but what if our current Kung Lao refused to fight in the tournament?
What if he told Raiden, "No. I will not play part in this horrific system the elder gods have in place. Actually stop these invasions from happening, BE ELDER GODS."
What if Kung Lao was purely a protector of Earth, who gave aid to Earth's champions when they are home and when Shao Kahn finally pushes his army into Earth we see Kung Lao just murdering Outworld warriors like God-damn...
Eh?
I actually think this is a good idea
Right now, Kung Lao doesn't have much to do. He's sort of an also-ran, and other than being Lui Kang's friend he doesn't have that much to do in the meta narrative.
Lui Kang is noble but he's ALL about resolving everything through conflict. Having Kung Lao be a shaolin who has the MEANS to fight but doesn't want to would be pretty fun and give a good contrast to everything else that's going on.
Raiden actually gets pretty violent at times, it would be interesting to have a human be his moral center?
Fair. Ok how bout this: Sub-Zero takes Scorpion and Cage with him to the Lin Kuei Temple to confront the Grandmaster: Did you really kill the Shirai Ryu for an evil sorceror? For MONEY?!
Surprise, the Cyber initiative has started. The Grandmaster will do anything to make his clan stronger, and the Cyber initiative isn't where their humanity was sacrificed, it's long gone. Scorpion sees Sub-Zero fight against his own clan for the honor of his fallen clan.
Also they beat the shit out of some robots.
I'm done writing for today but I'll try to get to faction stuff tomorrow!
Yes!
YES!!!
I actually think this is extra great because then you get to focus on the character dynamic between the three of them and don't have to worry too much about building up a crazy villain team: we are getting revenge for both our clans and murdering robots, and Johnny gets to go "holy shit what the fuck did I get myself into"
End that film with an immediate cut to Johnny explaining all of this to the studio head and screaming, "Sequel!!!"
Then boom, our credits are shots of the "Mortal Kombat" movie with big name actors in all of the roles (kind of like the beginning & ending of Austin Powers 3).
So I know that writing a script doesn't REALLY mean you do casting
But I think that if you're building a cinematic universe you have to at least think about the people who are going to be your pillars, right?
So, Johnny Cage is one of your biggest pillars
who do you think are some candidates for Johnny Cage?
I kind of think like, Chris Pine?
This is definitely what got stuck in my head as soon as I saw this thing existed
I'll definitely be reading through this! I don't know squat about Mortal Kombat, but this seems cool!
I like Chris Pine, I really do, but I'm going to look at actors with experience/backgrounds in martial arts.
Lots of actors have belts/training in different styles, so filling this movie with all trained martial artists would, to me, be awesome.
That would be really great! and I'm not set on him its just the first guy that came to mind
As someone who is way into diverse casting this is weird to say, but Johnny needs to be generic, white bread handsome white dude of some kind.
Thats ok though because he and Sonya are damn near the only white people in the whole shebang (except for quan chi, nyuk nyuk)
one of the best parts about an MK cinematic universe is it would basically FORCE a bunch of diverse casting, which would be awesome
I mean, yeah.
But... I also love the guy who played Johnny Cage in the 90's film.
haha Linden Ashby!
He FINALLY got steady work, as the Sherriff in Teen Wolf on MTV
He is quite good as Cage though, for sure
The reason I said Kurt Russell is that Cage is quite literally Jack Burton if he adventured long enough to become competent
He's someone who should be dead a million times over but he steps up, and steps up, and steps up, and eventually he's a real hero through sheer gumption
And magic powers, but you don't find that out till way later