Chin Han & Hiroyuki Sanada join Mortal Kombat as Shang Tsung and Scorpion

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

A new MORTAL KOMBAT film has been in development for a number of years, but recent weeks has seen the project moving full speed ahead as they fill up their cast. Variety has the scoop on the latest additions to the cast of the MORTAL KOMBAT film as they've reported that Chin Han (Marco Polo) and Hiroyuki Sanada (Westworld) have both signed on.

Chin Han is slated to play Shang Tsung, "a powerful evil warlock and shapeshifter who absorbs the souls of those he defeats in order to maintain his youth and power. As the great sorcerer of the Outworld, Shang Tsung wants Earth defeated so he can build an empire." He also happens to be the arch-nemesis of Liu Kang, who will be played by Ludi Lin (POWER RANGERS). Hiroyuki Sanada will play Scorpion, an undead ninja warrior out for revenge against the person who killed him. The rest of the cast includes Joe Taslim (THE RAID) as Sub-Zero, Mehcad Brooks (Supergirl) as Jax, Tadanobu Asano (THOR: RAGNAROK) as Raiden, Sisi Stringer (BLOODY HELL) as Mileena, Jessica McNamee (THE MEG) as Sonya Blade, and Josh Lawson (BOMBSHELL) as Kano. Simon McQuoid is directing from a script by Greg Russo with James Wan producing, and unlike the previous films in the franchise, Russo has said that this one will embrace its bloody origins with an R-rating.

Since it’s already been stated by other members of the team, I’m gonna put this one to bed. [Mortal Kombat] WILL be R-Rated and for the first time EVER, FATALITIES will FINALLY be on the big screen (and no I’m not gonna say which ones) You’ll just have to wait for the movie & see!

Those of you who follow JoBlo's Cast This! might recall that several weeks ago we featured a MORTAL KOMBAT column in which it was up to you to cast Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, Liu Kang, and Scorpion. As always, I offered up a few suggestions for each role, and if you'll excuse me while I toot my own horn, Hiroyuki Sanada was one of my picks for Scorpion. See, kids? Sometimes dreams do come true.

Production on MORTAL KOMBAT is expected to get underway later this year and the film is slated for a March 5, 2021 release.