Mortal Kombat (2021) Producer Confesses: “We Didn’t Know What We Had!”

Hey PakGamers fam!

Remember the buzz around the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie? From the moment the first trailer dropped, fans worldwide, including us here in Pakistan, were hyped to see our favorite kombatants on the big screen, fatality and all. While the film certainly delivered on the action front, packing in plenty of bone-crunching fights, it seems even the folks behind the scenes admit they might have overdone it a little.

Todd Garner, one of the main producers for the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, recently got super candid about the movie’s production journey. In a revealing statement, he confessed that the studio “didn’t know what it had” when it came to the potential of the first movie. This is a pretty significant admission from someone so close to the project!

Garner elaborated on this, explaining that because of this uncertainty and perhaps a lack of full confidence in other aspects, they leaned heavily into what they knew would resonate with fans: the fights. He famously stated, “we were in that fighting pit 75% of the time.” Think about that for a second – three-quarters of the movie’s focus was dedicated to the brutal, spectacular combat that defines Mortal Kombat.

Now, for many fans, the constant action was exactly what they wanted. After all, it’s Mortal Kombat! But Garner’s insight sheds light on the creative process and the studio’s mindset. It suggests they might have played it safe, focusing on the most obvious strength (the fighting) rather than fully exploring the rich lore, character development, or narrative depth that the game series also offers.

This revelation from the producer is fascinating. It implies that perhaps if they had fully understood the franchise’s cinematic potential from the get-go, we might have seen a more balanced film, or even one that set up future installments with a deeper story foundation. It makes you wonder what a Mortal Kombat movie with a 50/50 split between story and combat would look like, doesn’t it?

What are your thoughts on this, PakGamers? Did you enjoy the constant fighting, or do you wish there had been more story? Let us know in the comments below!