NetherRealm studio was looking for the opportunity to add John Wick from the film franchise of the same name to Mortal Kombat 1. Game designer Ed Boon spoke about this in an interview with Rolling Stone.
Boone did not specify why the studio abandoned this idea: due to inconsistencies between the hero and the gameplay, contradictions with Keanu Reeves, or due to the inability to reach an agreement with Lionsgate, which owns the rights to the character. In 2021, Reeves said that John Wick or Neo should not appear in Mortal Kombat – the characters do not fit into the game’s universe.
Mortal Kombat 1 was released on September 19, 2023. The fighting game is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch. Among other things, Jean-Claude Van Damme appeared in the game as a skin for Johnny Cage.
