Summary
- Mortal Kombat 2021 misrepresented itself as a Scorpion vs. Sub-Zero movie, disappointing fans who were expecting an epic showdown between the iconic characters.
- The fight between Scorpion and Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat 2021 was brief and lacked emotional weight, overshadowed by the focus on the newcomer character Cole Young.
- In order for a proper rematch between Scorpion and Sub-Zero to happen in Mortal Kombat 2, the characters will have to cheat death, with possibilities including the Netherrealm and the transformation of Sub-Zero into Noob Saibot.
While Mortal Kombat’s Sub-Zero and Scorpion fight left audiences disappointed, Mortal Kombat 2 can make up for it, but it means cheating death. The 2021 Mortal Kombat reboot arrived with the promise of reviving an age-old rivalry for a new generation: Scorpion versus Sub-Zero. The frosty assassin and the hellish specter’s duel have been a cornerstone of the franchise since its inception. Either Sub-Zero is the hero with Scorpion being the villain, or vice versa. In the case of the reboot, Scorpion is the hero and Sub-Zero is the villain in the 2021 Mortal Kombat cast, attempting to kill the Earthrealm opponents before the start of the Mortal Kombat tournament.
With the news that Mortal Kombat 2 is in production, there’s even more speculation and hope given that the 2021 movie was a mostly faithful adaptation full of satisfying fatalitiesm and that the sequel will introduce Johnny Cage. The Mortal Kombat 2 cast is huge and will introduce tons of other iconic video game characters too. However, most importantly, the sequel has a shot at righting the missed opportunity of giving Scorpion and Sub-Zero their proper epic showdown, but based on their 2021 Mortal Kombat fates, they’ll have to cheat death to do it.
From the initial trailers to the elaborate marketing campaigns, Mortal Kombat 2021 branded itself as the definitive portrayal of the Scorpion vs. Sub-Zero rivalry. Promotional material reflected this promise, plastering their faces on posters and trailers. The haunting visual in the trailer of Sub-Zero freezing a trail of blood in midair and using the frozen blood knife was the defining moment of the first trailer. Similarly, Scorpion’s early use of the Kunai chain promised an epic showdown that would satiate the appetite of both old and new fans. Yet, the final product turned this promise on its head opting to centralize a new character, Cole Young, at the story’s core.
Scorpion & Sub-Zero Barely Fought Each Other In Mortal Kombat 2021
The movie suitably reserved what should have been the iconic battle for its climax, but it was buried under an overarching plot centered around Cole Young. This narrative decision left many feeling short-changed, as the poster boys of the franchise were seemingly sidelined to accommodate a newcomer. The expectations that had been built up by months of promotions fizzled out in a couple of minutes of screen time. Despite the immense buildup, the Scorpion vs. Sub-Zero fight in Mortal Kombat 2021 was lamentably brief. Instead of being the climactic centerpiece, it felt more like an afterthought, overshadowed by Cole Young’s emergence as the film’s protagonist.
In fairness, the fight between Sub-Zero and Scorpion, as short as it is, is still thrilling in the 2021 movie. Scorpion drops his classic line, “Get over here!” at the perfect time, just as he stabs Sub-Zero with his Kunai chain and as the classic Mortal Kombat music comes in, and it’s a masterful amalgam of the franchise’s most iconic elements. However, while visually impressive and exciting, the fight lacks emotional weight and intensity, and it feels like more of a tease for a much bigger battle. The fleeting encounter between the two nemesis, compounded with Cole’s prominent role in the battle, left many fans disillusioned.
How Sub-Zero Can Return In Mortal Kombat 2
For a proper fight between Sub-Zero and Scorpion to happen in Mortal Kombat 2, the characters will have to cheat death given their fates in the 2021 movie. Cole Young kills Sub-Zero and Scorpion simply returns to Hell. However, there are still a number of ways both characters can come back into the fold and have a proper rematch in Mortal Kombat 2. Firstly, Hell is actually a realm in the Mortal Kombat franchise, though it’s better known as the Netherrealm. That opens the door for not only the two major characters to return but also fan-favorite Kano and many other characters who died in 2021’s Mortal Kombat too.
At the end of the 2021 movie, Shang Tsung seemed totally unphased that the Earthrealm opponents had killed all of his minions. It’s at that moment when Shang tells Raiden, “Death is just another portal,” hinting that the characters can fight again in some other realm in the Mortal Kombat universe. Outside of fighting in Hell or some other equivalent realm, there are still other plausible ways the fight can happen too. In the Mortal Kombat 2 cast, Joe Taslim (Sub-Zero) is confirmed to be returning, not as Sub-Zero, but as Noob Saibot.
In the video game series, Bi-Han is resurrected as the shadowy wraith of Noob Saibot, a far more menacing and powerful entity. If this transformation unfolds on screen, it could set the stage for a more intense and profound conflict. Additionally, Cole Young’s lineage and connection to Scorpion leaves open the possibility for him to adopt the Scorpion mantle in Mortal Kombat 2. The twist could not only rectify the previous movie’s missteps with the character, but also pave the way for a deeper exploration of the intertwined destinies of Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and now Cole Young.