Summary
A major fan theory surroundingMortal Kombat 1’s take on Scorpion has seemingly been confirmed by one of NetherRealm’s developers. Players were first introduced to Scorpion in the originalMortal Kombatway back in 1992, and the undead, fire-controlling, yellow-clad ninja warrior has been the face of the franchise ever since.Scorpion has appeared in everyMortal Kombatgameand movie adaptation, starred in his own direct-to-video animated film, and was even featured as a guest combatant in the firstInjusticegame.
In the originalMortal Kombattimeline, Scorpion was once Hanzo Hasashi, a high-ranking member of the Shirai Ryu ninja clan. After his family was attacked by the rival Lin Kuei, Hanzo was resurrected by the sorcerer Quan Chi to serve as his minion in the first Mortal Kombat tournament - as well as to seek revenge on the Lin Kuei warrior Bi-Han, aka Sub-Zero. However,Liu Kang’s alternation of theMKtimelineat the end ofMortal Kombat 11has led to a major change in Scorpion’s relationship with Sub-Zero, as the two ninjas are now brothers within the Lin Kuei.
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Ever since this twist was revealed, fans have speculated that it won’t be Hanzo Hasashi behind Scorpion’s iconic yellow mask inMortal Kombat 1, and now it looks like these suspicions have been confirmed. During a recent interview at last week’s San Diego Comic-Con 2023,Mortal Kombat 1story director Dominic Cianciolo discussed the revamped relationship between the three playable Lin Kuei members, during which he seemingly let it slip that Scorpion is now Kuai Liang - the second Sub-Zero of the originalMortal Kombatcontinuity.
This would be quite an ironic twist of fate, as Kuai Liang spent the better part ofthe oldMortal Kombattimelineas Scorpion’s bitter enemy. He first took up the mantle of Sub-Zero inMortal Kombat 2to avenge the death of his brother Bi-Han by Scorpion’s hand - though Bi-Han himself would later be resurrected as the ghostly ninja Noob Saibot. Bi-Han and Kuai Liang’s brotherly relationship means that the two ninjas are on good terms at the start ofMortal Kombat 1, but the game’s character bios have suggested that Scorpion and Sub-Zero may eventually become enemies once again.
The classic rivalrybetween Scorpion and Sub-Zerohas already undergone a major overhaul inMortal Kombat 1, and this freshly-confirmed twist that Scorpion may be Kuai Liang raises a whole new line of questions about where Hanzo Hasashi and Noob Saibot stand in the rebootedMKtimeline. It will certainly be interesting to see how this new dynamic plays out, and fans will get to experience the first chapter in the new Lin Kuei storyline whenMortal Kombat 1launches this fall.
Mortal Kombat 1launches September 19 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S
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