Mortal Kombat 2’s Scorpion Role & “Big New Characters” Teased By Hiroyuki Sanada

Summary

• Scorpion will have a bigger role in
  Mortal Kombat 2
  , but his screen time may not be extensive.
• The sequel will introduce iconic characters like Johnny Cage to create a well-rounded cast.
• Scorpion’s freedom from the Netherrealm suggests he will have more action scenes in the upcoming film.

Actor Hiroyuki Sanada has teased a bigger role for Scorpion in the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 movie, but has also revealed one caveat to his larger appearance. The iconic fighting game character appeared in the 2021 live-action adaptation of the video game, with his story being important background for the larger narrative of the film. However, he only made a major appearance near the end of the movie, when he helps Cole fight Sub-Zero.

Speaking with Screen Rant, Sanada, who portrays Scorpion in the live-action movie franchise, revealed the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 will see an increased role for his character. However, the actor also revealed around how much he’ll show up in the movie, which won’t be much compared to what the full length of the movie will be. Check out what Sanada had to say below:

Yeah, exactly, he was a bookend. 10 minutes and 10 minutes. [Laughs] It all depends on the editing, but yeah, I was there. It was a great reunion on set, most of the cast from the first movie, maybe four or five big new characters in it. The same director, and the same costume designer, it was fun. In the Australia Gold Coast, right after the strike, we started shooting, and we’re all done now.

How Big Will Scorpion’s Role In Mortal Kombat 2 Really Be?

The end of Mortal Kombat saw Scorpion finally freed from the Netherrealm, leaving after killing Sub-Zero and asking his descendant to maintain the Hasashi bloodline. This gives the recognizable fighter a fitting finale, even though he didn’t appear for very long in the film. However, Sanada’s newest statement indicates he could show up for at least the same amount of time, even though he’s expected to have a larger role in the movie once the final product is complete.

Since there will be plenty of iconic characters in Mortal Kombat 2, including the introduction of Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) to the film universe, it makes sense for Scorpion to also make a return. This allows for a more well-rounded cast that can reflect the action-packed story the sequel will undoubtedly have. It’s currently unclear what to expect from the film, since no concrete plot details have been revealed. However, given hints at the tournament throughout the previous movie, it’s possible the event comes to pass in this new installment.

If the tournament is a major focus for Mortal Kombat 2, then it makes sense for Scorpion’s role to increase, as he’s now free from the spiritual prison he had previously been trapped in. Because he is now freed, his increased role will likely include a variety of memorable action sequences, no doubt reflective of the skills he showed off at the end of the last film. For now, though, with his appearance seemingly taking the same amount of time as before, it remains to be seen what his story will entail in the movie.

Mortal Kombat 2
is currently in post-production. As of writing, a release date has not been announced.