Summary
Rumored for months but now officially confirmed,Mortal Kombat 1is getting a story expansion later this year. Arriving on June 24, 2025,Mortal Kombat 1’s Khaos Reigns DLCwill continue the story set up inMK1’s post-credits scene, where Titan Havik sets his sights on Liu Kang’s new timeline.
Along with its new story content,Mortal Kombat 1’s Khaos Reigns DLC will bring another six new fighters to the roster via a second Kombat Pack. While Cyrax, Sektor, and Noob Saibot will all be ready for the DLC’s September launch, Kombat Pack 2’s three guest fighters –Scream’s Ghostface,Terminator 2’s T-1000, and Conan the Barbarian – are going to take a little longer in the oven. The general reception to this DLC line-up has been pretty positive, though when it comes to Conan the Barbarian, there’s a risk that NetherRealm could be repeating a recent mistake.
Mortal Kombat 1’s Conan The Barbarian Needs to Avoid a Big Homelander Criticism
Mortal Kombat 1’s Homelander Isn’t Voiced by Antony Starr
WhenMortal Kombat 1’s first Kombat Packwas officially announced, fans rejoiced at the guest fighters on offer. DC’s Peacemaker,Invincible’s Omni-Man, andThe Boys' Homelander are all very popular characters that have stayed in the pop-culture zeitgeist for a while now, making them ideal picks forMK1’s DLC roster. But not everything turned out perfectly.
While J.K. Simmons lent his iconic voice toMortal Kombat 1’s Omni-Man, and even John Cena returned to portray Peacemaker,The Boys' Antony Starr didn’t voice Homelander. It’s unclear why Starr didn’t end up voicing Homelander inMortal Kombat 1, but it was certainly something that mired the otherwise solid new addition to the roster. Though Jake Green does a generally good job of impersonating the New Zealand actor, there are one or two moments in which his impression falls a bit flat, and those fleeting moments are enough to break some fans' immersion. Starr’s portrayal of Homelander has become a defining feature of Amazon’sThe Boys, and that notoriety meansMK1’s version of the character was always going to be scrutinized.
Mortal Kombat 1’s Conan The Barbarian Should Be Voiced by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Unfortunately,Mortal Kombat 1might be about to make the same mistake again. When askedif Arnold Schwarzenegger will voice Conan the Barbarian inMortal Kombat 1in a recent interview with ComicBook, Chief Creative Officer of NetherRealm, Ed Boon, replied “I don’t know yet,” and went on to say that “there are so many variables” and that the team is in “constant discussions” with Schwarzenegger’s people in an attempt to make something work. Boon ended his statement with a hopeful “fingers crossed.”
While that interview isn’t too optimistic, it also isn’t a definite no. While Chris Cox’s work voicingSchwarzenegger’s Terminator inMortal Kombat 11was good, it suffered some jarring moments similar to those found with Homelander’s recentMortal Kombatappearance. When it comes to an actor like Arnold Schwarzenegger – whose voice is easily one of the most iconic in Hollywood – any portrayals of his characters that don’t have him reprising the role are bound to feel a little uncanny. With Robert Patrick already confirmed to be voicingMK1’s T-1000, and the original actor for Ghostface’s modulated voice also set to appear inMortal Kombat 1, it would be amazing to see Schwarzenegger return to voice Conan the Barbarian.
Mortal Kombat 1
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to a new era of Kombat. NetherRealm Studios ushers in a new era of the iconic fighting franchise with a total reset that changes the entire world as we know it. Following the thrilling climax of Mortal Kombat 11, the all-powerful Fire God Liu Kang has created a New Era in the hope of bringing peace to Earthrealm and beyond. Through the series' most cinematic story mode yet, you’ll be reintroduced to a cast of legendary warriors as you’ve never seen them before. Expect twists on classic friendships and rivalries, as well as new backstories that will change everything you think you know about your favorite Kombatants. Discover a host of new offline and online game modes as you master a revitalized fighting system that boasts bone-crunching Fatal Blows, defensive Breakers and the most creatively vicious Fatalities yet.
