Mortal Kombat Movie: Every Character & Actor Confirmed So Far

Played by: Tadanobu Asano

Big Trouble In Little China had an influence on the design of not one, but two characters from the original Mortal Kombat game. Just as Shang Tsung was based on David Lo Pan, Raiden was based on one of the Three Storms that serve Lo Pan. This relationship couldn't be further from the truth of Raiden and Tsung.

The god of thunder and lightning serves under the Elder Gods as Earthrealm's primary protector. It is he who traditionally gathers champions to fight for Earthrealm in Mortal Kombat, and he who protects those societies that train such warriors. Raiden is forbidden from entering the tournament himself unless he turns himself mortal, and he loses his powers whenever he enters another realm, putting him on an even playing field with other kombatants.

Later in the series he becomes an Elder God, renounces these powers, goes dark, returns to the light, strikes deals with everyone he once fought, loses the Earthrealm, and then sends a message back to his past self during the first tournament Liu Kang won that ends up resetting the timeline.

Raiden will be played by veteran actor Tadanobu Asano, a workhorse who has appeared in a variety of roles in his 40 year career.