Why Mortal Kombat 1’s Leak is a Game-Changer for DCU Content
Could the leak of Mortal Kombat 1's character hint at the potential for more mature-rated DCU content? With the possibility of DCU characters joining the roster, the question arises: will they be willing to get bloodied up? And if so, will they be portrayed by their actual actors?
The upcoming Mortal Kombat 1 game has yet to reveal its full roster or any gameplay footage, but leaks suggest that the game will feature exciting characters inspired by popular culture. NetherRealm has a history of creating unique themes for their Mortal Kombat games, with Mortal Kombat X being horror movie-themed and Mortal Kombat 11 being action movie-themed. However, Mortal Kombat 1 seems to be taking a different approach with its potential guest characters.
Interestingly, the leaked roster also suggests that NetherRealm is still invested in the DC mythology. While characters from The Flash may not be the best fit for a Mortal Kombat adaptation, Max's Peacemaker could be a great addition and a potential entry point for the DCU. With The Flash movie set to bridge the continuity between the Snyderverse and James Gunn's new DCU proposal, it's likely that the DCU will continue to strive towards introducing more characters to the Mortal Kombat universe.
DCU Characters Might Only Join Mortal Kombat if They’re Not Afraid to Get Bloody
The marriage of preposterous immaturity and somber emotionality in Peacemaker has resulted in a highly celebrated DC endeavor, despite its gratuitous violence and sexual content. These tonal expressions are in line with the character Peacemaker, who would be well-suited for adaptation in Mortal Kombat 1. However, the limited choices for guest characters in Mortal Kombat, who must be easily brutalized, dismembered, and disemboweled, means that only a select few from DC can be chosen. With more entries like Peacemaker, the DCU could offer additional character adaptations in future Mortal Kombat DLC or sequels.
DCU Characters Likely Need to Be Portrayed by Their Actual Actors in Mortal Kombat 1
With the vast amount of characters available from the DC Universe, NetherRealm Studios has plenty of options to choose from for future guest characters in Mortal Kombat. However, they will need to be cautious when selecting characters due to potential backlash from fans if the character is not portrayed accurately or respectfully.If Peacemaker is indeed included in Mortal Kombat 1, fans can expect to hear John Cena's voice bringing the character to life. It wouldn't be the first time a guest character's famous actor provided voice work for their role, as seen with Sylvester Stallone voicing Rambo and Peter Weller voicing RoboCop in Mortal Kombat 11. However, with James Gunn's plans for the Peacemaker character in the DC Universe, it adds an interesting layer of commitment for these actors across all forms of media.
If a DCU character is being considered for inclusion in Mortal Kombat, it seems that their actor must be available to voice the character. As a result, the DCU's Harley Quinn may only be a feasible DLC character if Robbie also participates, and the Joker from Injustice and Mortal Kombat may not make another appearance unless the DCU introduces a new iteration of the Clown Prince of Crime for NetherRealm to use in the future. However, this presents an excellent cross-promotional opportunity for both NetherRealm and the DCU. Additionally, if future installments like Creature Commandos are successful successors to The Suicide Squad, NetherRealm could have numerous DCU characters to add to their post-launch rosters.
Mortal Kombat 1 launches on September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S.
