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Mortal Kombat Movie Casts Thor: Ragnarok Star As Raiden


What's better than getting an actor who played a video game character to play Liu Kang? Getting the guy who went up against Ichi the Killer to portray the protector of the Earthrealm. The Mortal Kombat movie has just cast Tadanobu Asano as Raiden.

The Hollywood Reporter has just confirmed three more actors will be joining New Line Cinema's Mortal Kombat film. In addition to Asano, Supergirl actor Mehcad Brooks has been chosen to play Jax while Sisi Stringer will play Mileena. They will join Ludi Lin, who has finally been confirmed as Liu Kang, as well as Joe Taslim, who was cast as Sub-Zero.

Asano is certainly no stranger to playing powerful characters. He portrayed Kakihara, the brutal Yakuza enforcer in Takashi Miike's Ichi the Killer. Asano also played the antagonistic Lord Kira Yoshinaka in 47 Ronin. In addition to that, he appeared in all three Thor films as Hogun.

Asano's Marvel character is best remembered for defying Hela in Thor: Ragnarok, which resulted in an awesome fight sequence. (Also, Hela's reaction to Hogun's defiance was epic).

It's interesting to note that Asano previously played one of Thor's loyal companions and he has now been cast as Mortal Kombat's version of the Japanese thunder god Raijin. We certainly can't wait to see Asano as Raiden in the film.

The Mortal Kombat movie is expected to begin production in Adelaide, Australia in the next few months. It is then set to premiere on March 5, 2021.

Related: Shang-Chi Star Simu Liu Supports Ludi Lin Casting As Mortal Kombat Movie's Liu Kang

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