After adding stars Mehcad Brooks, Tadanobu Asano, newcomer Sisi Stringer, and POWER RANGERS actor Ludi Lin to the cast of New Line's MORTAL KOMBAT film, THR is reporting that THE MEG actress Jessica McNamee is in final negotiations to join the fight as Sonya Blade. Meanwhile, the outlet also says that Australian actor Josh Lawson (BOMBSHELL, SUPERSTORE) has already signed onto the project for the role of Kano. Lastly, it's also been reported that WU ASSASSINS and DEADPOOL 2 alum Lewis Tan is in final negotiations to play a yet-to-be-disclosed lead character.
According to the NetherRealm Wiki:
General of Earthrealm Special Forces, Sonya Blade is a beautiful, stern, tough-as-nails General. Sonya represents a very emancipated and headstrong woman, but for all her stubbornness and pride, she deeply cares about the lives of her friends and comrades. She has a long-standing enmity with the Black Dragon leader, Kano, who had murdered a former partner of hers, and stands for everything Sonya despises. She has also feuded with other Black Dragon members such as Jarek.
During the events of the new timeline, Sonya was in a relationship with Johnny Cage not long after the Netherrealm War and Shinnok's defeat. Together they had a daughter in Cassie Cage.
In the beginning of MK11, she sparred against Cassie Cage during the military title promotion match. Afterwards, Raiden consults Cassie, Sonya, and Johnny about attacking Netherrealm as the utmost importance. During the mission, Liu Kang (MK11 Dark Emperor) interfered and trapped Sonya under rubble in Shinnok's Bone Temple, at which Sonya detonates herself to destroy it. However, due to Kronika's interference, younger versions of Johhny Cage, Jax Briggs, and Sonya were brought to the current timeline.
As for Kano:
As a mercenary and leader of the international crime cartel known as the Black Dragon, he rises beyond mere brutality and aggression by also being sly and cunning. Originally from Australia, Kano is highly opportunistic and incredibly selfish, willing to betray his own realm and even his own allies for money or personal gain. As a result, he quickly became part of Shao Kahn's inner circle, and eventually the general of Outworld's armies (in the original timeline). One of his more notable features is his facetious and twisted sense of humor, almost always making light of dire circumstances. His vulgarity is an additional outlier among other characters, most evident by his penchant for callously spitting, drinking and urinating wherever he pleases. His assortment of dirty fighting tactics also compliments his unpleasant personality. He combines features of a cowardly minion, a lone survivor, a crazed madman, and a ruthless commander. His actions have made him the archenemy of Sonya Blade, who is obsessed with finding and bringing Kano to justice.
A portion of Kano's face is covered with a metal plate, the result of a disfiguring injury he sustained at the hands of Jax prior to the events of the series, with the plated eye being a glowing red orb capable of emitting laser beams.
Previously, THE RAID's Joe Taslim was confirmed to be the first official cast member of MORTAL KOMBAT, after signing on to play Sub-Zero in the upcoming film. Directing the fatality-filled bloodbath for New Line is Simon McQuoid from a script being penned by Greg Russo. James Wan is producing via his Atomic Monster banner with plans to shoot MORTAL KOMBAT later this year in Adelaide. After completing work on a portion of the film, the production will move to a larger location set in South Australia.
MORTAL KOMBAT will be looking to perform a fatalitiy on the box office when it opens in theaters on March 5, 2021.