In 2021, Warner Bros. Pictures and NetherRealm released the first live-action Mortal Kombat movie in 24 years, and while audiences were praising it, there was one complaint that stuck out: Cole Young. A completely original character created only for the film, he was derided for overshadowing the rest of the roster and being literal plot armor.
However, in a new interview with Comicbook.com, series creator Ed Boone revealed that Cole Young almost made it into the games.
“When we were making Mortal Kombat 1, the last game we did, we had these fighters, these supporting fighters called cameo fighters, and for a while we were talking about having a Cole Young cameo fighter in the game to tie the game and the movies together,” Ed Boon explained. “But then we ran out of time, we had to start another game, and then it never happened.”
What “next game” is Ed Boone teasing?
What could be “the next game”, while some have taken Ed Boon's comments as a sign of a new Mortal Kombat, it is widely believed that NetherRealm is actually working on Injustice 3.
At a recent conference, Superman actor George Newburn reportedly confirmed that he is working on a sequel, while reliable Warner Bros. Gaming leaker multiversusie gave a very clear hint for the game in 2025 when they posted, “Closing multiversusie is unfair, then stopping doing it all again is unfair again.
Ed Boon also stated in 2023 that the team planned to return to Injustice after the launch of Mortal Kombat 1.
In hindsight, Netherreal may have dodged the bullet, considering the heat Mortal Kombat 1 was already under for its poor launch and aggressive MTX practices. Adding one of the most hated characters to the franchise, when fan-favorites like Jade were missing, would no doubt have fueled the backlash. Thankfully, it's hard to imagine Cole Young stealing a spot in the new Injustice game.
- issued
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September 19, 2023
- ESRB
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M for Mature 17+ due to blood and gore, intense violence, strong language
- developer(s)
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NetherRealm Studio
- Publisher(s)
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Warner Bros. Games
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 4
- Multiplayer
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Online multiplayer
- Cross-platform play
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PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
