Sub-Zero in the 'Mortal Kombat' Movie is Bi-Han and the Villain, Says Director
The first trailer for the upcoming action film Mortal Kombat has been released, showing all the blood and gore that fans of the video game franchise are used to.
However, one character has piqued the interest of fans. Sub-Zero has had a long history in the Mortal Kombat franchise, but in the film—releasing April 16 in theaters and on HBO Max—the ice-powered fighter appears to be the de facto villain.
According to IGN, director Simon McQuoid describes Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim) as the key villain of the film, a fact that becomes obvious in the first seconds of the trailer that released Thursday.
In the preview, Major Jackson "Jax" Briggs (Mehcad Brooks) enters a compound that has been filled with ice. He runs into Sub-Zero who freezes Briggs' gun and his arms before shattering them into pieces.
Interestingly enough, Shang Tsung (Chin Han), who fans of the games know as the usual villain, will be in the film as well. If the director is calling Sub-Zero the key villain, then where does that leave Shang Tsung? He's the overseer of the Mortal Kombat tournament, but will his role be a more minor one?
As for Sub-Zero himself, McQuoid also confirmed that this version of Sub-Zero is based on Bi-Han, the original holder of the mantle.
Mortal Kombat fans know that the title of Sub-Zero has been held by two brothers, Bi-Han and the younger Kuai Liang, warriors of the Lin Kuei. Bi-Han had less than noble motives in the Mortal Kombat franchise. He was the one who led the Lin Kuei in slaughtering the Shirai Ryu ninja clan, led by Hanzo Hasashi, better known to fans as Scorpion.
This was all the machinations of the sorcerer Quan Chi, but there's been no indication that the character will show up here, so the motives for Bi-Han may be different in the film. Of course, with his clan dead, Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada) is led down a path of vengeance and one of the most famous rivalries in all of video gaming is born.
As far Scorpion and Bi-Han's story goes in the games, Bi-Han kills Scorpion, who comes back as a specter with supernatural powers. Scorpion gets his revenge on Sub-Zero, killing Bi-Han.
The mantle of Sub-Zero goes down to Bi-Han's younger brother, who is a more noble leader of the Lin Kuei and is the warrior most fans know under the mask. However, Bi-Han's story isn't finished with his death.
In the games, Bi-Han is revived by Quan Chi's magic to become the wraith Noob Saibot and serves under the villains of various Mortal Kombat stories.
How far the movie will go with Bi-Han's story is unclear, but fans won't have to wait long for Mortal Kombat to release on April 16 in theaters and on HBO Max for a limited time.
What did you think of the first trailer for Mortal Kombat? Who is your favorite character? Let us know in the comments section.
