Mortal Kombat’s Joe Taslim Hopes For A Sub-Zero Prequel Movie

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Mortal Kombat star Joe Taslim explains why, moving forward, he’d rather play Sub-Zero in a prequel than a sequel. Directed by Simon McQuoid, with Greg Russo and Dave Callaham writing the screenplay, the live-action reboot centered its action on Cole Young and introduced viewers to new iterations of classic fighters like Sonya Blade, Jax, Kano, and Scorpion.

Still, for many, it was Taslim’s portrayal of Sub-Zero that turned heads. The Indonesian actor and martial artist drew comparisons to Bruce Lee from co-star Mehcad Brooks. And with the news that he’s signed up for several more Mortal Kombat projects, if the reboot succeeds, there’s a good chance audiences will be seeing more of Taslim. In the past, The Raid and Warrior star has made his love of Mortal Kombat known by expressing his desire to appear as Noob Sailbot. But, in new remarks, Taslim admits a Sub-Zero prequel would be his ultimate preference.

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In an interview with THR, Taslim elaborated on why he hopes to star in a Sub-Zero prequel. The actor explained that the character’s history of being abducted and with murdered parents would be an interesting story to tell. He also referenced the process of Bi-Han and his brother becoming assassins as a particular selling point. You can read Taslim’s quote below:

“To be honest, the most interesting path, in my opinion, is to do a prequel. It would be a story about Bi-Han and his training in the Lin Kuei. When he got abducted by the Lin Kuei, his parents were killed. So it would be the process of him and his brother becoming assassins, and I think that’s quite interesting as well.”

The actor may very well have the right idea. The opening scene of Mortal Kombat, with Taslim’s Bi-Han facing off against Hanzo Hasashi (Hiroyuki Sanada), drew widespread praise. In the eyes of fans and critics alike, the extended prologue was arguably the best part of the long-awaited video game reboot. A big part of the appeal comes down to Taslim’s performance. Although the actor is still memorable after Bi-Han takes on the mantle of Sub-Zero, the fighter’s mask and generally calculated demeanor dilute some of the spark that Taslim displays in those opening minutes. A prequel could potentially give one of Mortal Kombat’s breakout stars the chance to delve deeper into his portrayal, highlighting how he became the ruthless assassin that viewers witness in the reboot.

It could also avoid some of the pitfalls of a sequel, as any Mortal Kombat sequel would be expected to adhere to the video game’s style and general aesthetic. Based on the positive reception to Taslim’s brief turn as Bi-Han, in addition to the rich backstory, a prequel could ultimately be more fulfilling. Taslim nonetheless acknowledges that it would be fun to appear as Noob Saibot. The character is the incarnation of evil, stripped of anything that might have made Bi-Han human, which would be an interesting challenge for any performer to embody. Regardless of Sub-Zero’s future on the screen though, it’s a good thing that the Mortal Kombat franchise has found such a capable actor to play him.