Shao Kahn is definitely one of the characters I’m most excited to see in Mortal Kombat 2, but the menacing Outworld emperor looks different than I expected him to. Since Shang Tsung failed to kill Earthrealm’s warriors at the end of 2021’s Mortal Kombat, Shao Kahn will emerge as the main villain of the sequel. While the first film in the rebooted franchise disappointed some, anticipation is high for the sequel since it will include an actual Mortal Kombat tournament. This tournament will see characters like Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Cole Young, and Johnny Cage take on Outworld’s warriors.
If the upcoming Mortal Kombat 2 faithfully follows the video games, then one of Earthrealm’s champions will face Shao Kahn in the final fight of the tournament. The stakes will be higher than ever since the Outworld emperor will be able to invade Earthrealm if he wins. Shao Kahn has invaded other realms before, such as Edenia, so Earthrealm’s fighters will need to be ready. Based on some of the first images of the movie, Shao Kahn looks very intimidating in Mortal Kombat 2, but I expected him to look different after a tease in the first movie.
What Shao Kahn Looks Like In Mortal Kombat 2
Shao Kahn Is One Of The Most Dangerous Mortal Kombat Villains
I was very surprised when I saw the first official image of Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat 2, originally posted by Entertainment Weekly as part of their preview of the film. In the movie, Shao Kahn’s glowing red eyes will stand out under his dark mask. From the image, it is clear his mask will be very detailed, but the lighting makes it hard to tell how much color will be present in the character design. Check out the full image below:
Shao Kahn’s full body in Mortal Kombat 2 cannot be seen in this image, but it’s safe to say he will be just as big and imposing as he is in the games. After all, Shao Kahn will be played by Martyn Ford in the film, who is a six-foot-eight bodybuilder. However, in the video games, Shao Kahn has a distinct red cape and his helmet is much more silver. It could just be the lighting in the provided image, but it kind of seems like the colors on Shao Kahn’s costume may be toned down in the movie.
Mortal Kombat 2021 Easter Egg Gave Shao Kahn A Different Appearance
It’s More Video Game Accurate
Speaking of colors, the character’s costume looked much different in the Easter egg included in the first movie. In the 2021 film, a mural featuring Shao Kahn can be seen in Raiden’s temple. In the image, which can be seen above, Shao Kahn’s helmet and armor appears to be golden and his horns are much longer. His golden armor in this image is actually a change from his video game costume, but the longer horns make sense since certain Mortal Kombat video games depict him as such.
Before the first official images of Mortal Kombat 2 were released, I ᴀssumed Shao Kahn’s costume was going to be similar to the image in the first movie. Even if this mural doesn’t perfectly match the game version of Shao Kahn, video game character designs are usually changed slightly when they are adapted into a live-action movie. However, I’m surprised that Shao Kahn looks like he’s wearing a completely different armor set and helmet in Mortal Kombat 2.
Why Shao Kahn Looks Different In Mortal Kombat 2 Than In The 2021 Movie
The Redesign Could Make Sense
While his appearance in Mortal Kombat 2 initially surprised me, there are several potential reasons why Shao Kahn looks different in the sequel from how he did in the mural. Firstly, it’s possible that the image of Shao Kahn in Raiden’s temple depicts the Outworld emperor many years before the events of Mortal Kombat 2. In the story of the games, Shao Kahn is thousands of years old. His exact age is not known, but he could very well be 10,000-plus years old. Therefore, it would make sense for his appearance to change over time.
The image of Shao Kahn in the first movie definitely looks very cool, but it’s likely that the costume department had new ideas for his look when filming began on the sequel.
Secondly, Shao Kahn may look different in Mortal Kombat 2 simply because Ford was not cast in the role yet when the 2021 film was released. Since Shao Kahn did not show up in the first film, a costume for the character was probably never made. The image of Shao Kahn in the first movie definitely looks very cool, but it’s likely that the costume department had new ideas for his look when filming began on the sequel. Overall, even though I expected a different look, I’m still incredibly excited to see Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat 2.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
