Mortal Kombat 1 director Ed Boon shared a new skin for Johnny Cage based on 80’s action hero Jean Claude Van Damme during a ‘Hot Ones’ interview. The skin design is based on Van Damme’s appearance in Bloodsport and marks a substantial milestone for the franchise. The iconic movie star served as the inspiration for Mortal Kombat and the Johnny Cage character. His inclusion in Mortal Kombat 1 marks a major win for Boon and NetherRealm, who have fought hard to include him in previous entries over the years.
Ed Boon Reveals Van Damme Skin in Hot Ones Interview
The skin is revealed in the newest episode of Hot Ones at the 5:50 mark. Van Damme joins previous 80s legends that have found their way into the franchise. This includes the likes of Robocop and the Terminator. Boon expressed his excitement at Van Damme’s inclusion in the newest entry, saying it was a “validating full circle moment”
The skin will feature Van Damme’s likeness as well as his voice when it is applied to Johnny Cage. It is unclear whether this is entirely new dialogue from the actor or archived recordings. The 80s mega star joins an already loaded roster in Mortal Kombat 1.
The game’s first Kombat pack features multiple cross-over characters, including Homelander, Omni-Man, and Peacemaker. It’s also attracted some serious A-list talent. Megan Fox is also set to join the cast as the vampiric warrior Nitara who was last seen in the franchise’s PS2 era. The newest ad for the game also features Dave Bautista in a throwback to the classic Mortal Monday ad.
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The newest entry into the series will reportedly serve as a soft reboot. As such, it’s pretty fitting that NetherRealm was able to obtain Van Damme’s likeness to kick off a whole new era of blood-splattered fatalities.
Mortal Kombat 1 will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC on September 14.
