NetherRealm Studios has released a new trailer for Mortal Kombat 1, giving an in-depth look at the one and only Jean-Claude Van Damme as Johnny Cage.
It’s a pretty full-circle moment as Van Damme wasn’t just heavy inspiration for the character of Johnny Cage, but Mortal Kombat in general. Van Damme is one of the most prominent action stars in history, known for films like Bloodsport, Double Impact, Street Fighter, and much more.
In a recent episode of First We Feast’s Hot Ones, series’ co-creator Ed Boon explained a bit of the actor’s influence.
“When we made the very first game, our intention was to make Van Damme: The Arcade Game” says Boon “When we made the very first game, our intention was to make Van Damme: The Arcade Game. “So we tried a number of times, going back and forth with him. This time, we hit the lottery, and we got him. We actually have his voice and he’s going to be the Johnny Cage character, and it’s the absolute full circle moment that we had.”
Van Damme will appear in the game as a skin for Johnny Cage, which includes a new voice. The skin will be available a launch and is included as part of the Kombat Pack that grants access to six DLC characters – Quan Chi, Ermac, Takeda Takahashi, Peacemaker, Omni-Man, and Homelander. The Van Damme skin is also included as part of the Premium Edition, which grants five days of early access.
Mortal Kombat 1 is quickly becoming a bit of a star-studded affair. Earlier this week it was announced that Megan Fox would play the role of Nitara in the game, and of course, John Cena will be appearing as Peacemaker down the road. Dave Bautista also appeared in a recent ad, but isn’t actually in the game himself.
Mortal Kombat 1 launches on September 19 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
