NetherRealm Studios made an attempt to include the character John Wick in the popular fighting game Mortal Kombat 1, but unfortunately, their efforts were unsuccessful. Ed Boon, the creative mind behind NetherRealm, expressed his belief that John Wick would have been a perfect addition to the Mortal Kombat series, given the character’s unique skill set. However, for reasons unknown, the collaboration did not materialize.
“I could envision characters like John Wick being a part of Mortal Kombat. In fact, we did try to secure the rights to include John Wick in the game, but we were unable to do so,” Boon revealed.
In 2021, Keanu Reeves, the actor who portrays John Wick, stated that he does not believe John Wick belongs in Mortal Kombat, nor does his other iconic character, Neo from The Matrix.
“If it were up to me? No. Mortal Kombat is undeniably fantastic in numerous ways, but I believe that characters like Neo and John Wick should remain in their own respective domains. Mortal Kombat has its own unique identity,” Reeves explained.
The rights to the John Wick franchise are owned by Lionsgate, and it appears that the company has its own plans for expanding the John Wick video game universe. The specific reasons behind John Wick’s absence in Mortal Kombat 1 remain undisclosed, but it is likely related to licensing rights and associated fees.
However, it is worth noting that John Wick did make a guest appearance in another video game prior to this, as the notorious assassin joined the roster of Fortnite in 2019.
During the interview, Boon also shared an interesting idea he had considered for Mortal Kombat 1, which involved having established actors portray each of the game’s characters. He mentioned that he would have considered Keanu Reeves for the role of Kenshi. However, Boon acknowledged that this concept was merely a “pipe dream.”
“Many actors fail to realize the level of sophistication that video games have achieved. When you sign up for a project like this, you are not simply committing to a one-day recording session lasting an hour; it is akin to a genuine acting job,” Boon emphasized.
Mortal Kombat 1 does feature Megan Fox as the character Nitara, although some fans have expressed dissatisfaction with her voice acting performance.
The premium edition of Mortal Kombat 1 became available on September 14, while the standard edition was released on September 19. To learn more, you can explore the reviews for Mortal Kombat 1.