‘Mortal Kombat’ Movie Finds Its Sub-Zero (Exclusive)
Finish him!
New Line’s Mortal Kombat movie has found its Sub-Zero.
Actor and martial artist Joe Taslim will be playing the superpowered fighter in the live-action adaptation of the video game.
James Wan and his Atomic Monster banner are producing the movie, which will be the feature debut of veteran commercial director Simon McQuoid. Todd Garner will also produce, with Larry Kasanoff, E. Bennett Walsh, Michael Clear and Sean Robins executive producing.
While the plot of the film remains unknown, the video game centers on a massive roster of character fighters from different realms in a fictional universe battling for supremacy. Greg Russo penned the current version of the screenplay.
First released in 1992, Mortal Kombat has sold over 49 million copies, spanning over a dozen canon games and expansions, making it one of the most profitable video game franchises of all time. Mortal Kombat 11 was released in April and has become the most successful launch in franchise history.
The game was previously adapted into a movie in 1995 by director Paul W. S. Anderson that went on to gross an impressive $122 million at the worldwide box office. It was followed by 1997’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.
Sub-Zero was one of the original characters featured in the 1992 game and is known for his attacks involving ice. He has a long-running rivalry with similarly garbed fellow kombatant Scorpion.
Taslim’s is the first deal to close for Mortal Kombat, which is set to shoot later this year in southern Australia.
An alum of Indonesia’s national Judo team, Taslim made his acting debut in the cult action film The Raid. His other feature credits include Fast & Furious 6, Star Trek Beyond and the recent Netflix feature The Night Comes for Us.
Taslim is repped by ICM.