Ed Boon has revealed that John Wick was a character he considered bringing in for the latest Mortal Kombat title.
Over the years, Mortal Kombat has had many unique Kombatants from 3rd party franchises brought in to help "bolster the ranks" and set up some unique matches. During an interview with Rolling Stone, co-creator Ed Boon highlighted how he attempted to work the legendary Keanu Reeves character into the title: "I could certainly see the John Wicks of the world… as a matter of fact, that is one of the ones that we tried to get -- John Wick -- in Mortal Kombat, and we didn't get it."
Could John Wick Fit Mortal Kombat's Mold?
While it's not known why the game couldn't secure the character, it's not hard to see why Ed Boon or others would want to see John Wick in the game. First and foremost, the movie franchise is known for its incredible fight scenes and violent deaths. Guns, knives, swords, books, horses, nothing is off the table when it comes to John Wick using what's available to get out alive. As fans know, John has a knack for surviving the impossible.
Ironically, someone who wasn't up for seeing the character brought into the renowned gaming franchise was Keanu Reeves. In 2021, the actor spoke to Esquire, citing that John Wick and Neo shouldn't be brought into the franchise for a basic reason. "If it was up to me? No. Mortal Kombat is awesome in so many ways, but I think... you know, Neo, John Wick, they're doing their own thing. Mortal Kombat is doing their own thing" he explained.
While John Wick won't be in Mortal Kombat 1, multiple third party characters have already been confirmed for the title. The first Kombat Pack will feature Homelander, Omni-Man, and Peacemaker entering the fight. Plus, NetherRealm is known for making multiple Kombat Packs, so others are possible. In the past, third party characters who have appeared in NetherRealm Studios titles include Kratos, Rambo, The Terminator, Robocop, Hellboy, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Xenomorph, the Predator, Jason Voorhees, Freddie Kreuger, and more.
Mortal Kombat 1 is now available for purchase on console and PC.
Source: Rolling Stone, Esquire