There are a couple of thoughts you’ll likely have after you watch the films in “The Raid” series for the film time. First, you’ll think that you’ve just witnessed perhaps the best martial arts films ever created, maybe even out of the entire action genre. Then you’ll probably wonder why the hell these actors aren’t bigger stars. Well, it may have taken some time, but we’re starting to see some of the ‘Raid’ actors get bigger and bigger roles, most recently with actor Joe Taslim.
According to THR, Taslim is the first actor to sign on to take part in James Wan’s upcoming “Mortal Kombat” reboot. The actor will portray the iconic character Sub-Zero in the forthcoming action/martial arts film.
If you somehow avoided video games over the last 30 years, you may not be familiar with “Mortal Kombat.” The film is based on the game of the same name that finds elite fighters from all around the world converging on a mysterious island, run by an equally mysterious leader, that must battle each other for supremacy. The premise may be simple, but over the years, a ton of mythology has been added to each character, fleshing out their motivations quite a bit.
As mentioned, Taslim is best known for his work on “The Raid.” However, since those films, he’s kept busy with work in films like “Fast & Furious 6,” “Star Trek Beyond,” and the recent Netflix film “The Night Comes for Us.” The latter film is a must-watch for fans of “The Raid.” He’s also starring in the recent Cinemax series “Warrior.”
This new “Mortal Kombat” comes from producer Wan, who is all over the place thanks to his blockbuster film “Aquaman” and his work on “The Conjuring” universe. The new film will be directed by Simon McQuoid, based on a script from Greg Russo.
This isn’t the first “Mortal Kombat” film to hit the big screen, however. Back in 1995, a “Mortal Kombat” film was released and became a blockbuster, spawning a sequel just two years later. While you may not remember anything specific about the plot or the actors, you will likely remember the theme song.