Mortal Kombat is introducing a new fighter to the franchise in Lewis Tan’s Cole Young, and there have already been several clues that his true identity isn’t exactly what it seems. The film will feature a large cast of characters from the video games, including Scorpion (Hiroyuki Sanada), Jax (Mehcad Brooks), Sub-Zero (Joe Taslim), and Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee). Mortal Kombat is scheduled for release in theaters and on HBO Max on April 16.
Like many of the Mortal Kombat games, the new movie will center on the eponymous tournament – a mythical event where representatives from the evil Outworld battle human warriors (for the most part) for the right to invade and conquer Earthrealm. As in the original arcade game, Outworld’s forces will be led by the sorcerer Shang Tsung (Chin Han), and Earthrealm’s fighters will be assembled and led by Lord Raiden, the god of thunder. Cole Young is at the center of that Earthrealm team in the reboot, and it’s been heavily teased that his selection goes beyond his martial arts skills.
Since the announcement of Cole’s character, numerous theories have circulated about his origin, nature, and ties to the other characters. Some have posited he could secretly be Johnny Cage, Scorpion, or even Sub-Zero. Others believe his connection to the Mortal Kombat tournament is less direct. So far, several major clues have been revealed, and analyzing each of them may give a clearer indication of Cole Young’s true identity.
Cole’s Mortal Kombat Dragon Birthmark
In the Mortal Kombat trailer, Cole is shown to have a curious birthmark on his chest – a dragon, specifically the one found in the MK logo. He’s told by Sonya and Jax that the mark is actually an invitation to the Mortal Kombat tournament and that Sub-Zero wears the same mark. This hints at a few different things. First, Cole’s connection to the tournament goes back to his birth, implying it is either tied to his family line or that he was somehow fated to participate. Second, it establishes a connection between Cole and Sub-Zero/Bi-Han. Jax and Sonya say the mark is a tournament invitation, but it isn’t made clear if they or any of Earth’s other fighters share this marking. That makes it seem likely that not every participant bears the dragon, which makes Cole and Sub-Zero’s bond even more mysterious.
Sub-Zero Is Hunting Cole Young In Mortal Kombat
Promos for Mortal Kombat have revealed that Sub-Zero is hunting Cole at the beginning of the film, even before he joins up with the rest of the Earthrealm fighters. There are two likely explanations for Bi-Han’s pursuit, both of which may be true. The simplest answer is that Shang Tsung sent Sub-Zero to kill Cole, likely to prevent him from entering the tournament. If the dragon birthmark is truly an invitation, it’s not absurd to assume that Shang Tsung could identify Cole as a serious potential threat. However, the specific targeting of Cole could mean he has a special status even among the other Earthrealm warriors; that he may be the biggest threat of all to Outworld.
The other likely explanation for Sub-Zero’s pursuit is that it’s tied to the ice ninja’s vendetta against Scorpion. Bi-Han’s hatred of Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion is clearly alive and well even in the present-day MK timeline, and if Bi-Han suspects Cole is descended from or otherwise in league with Scorpion, he would likely stop at nothing to bring him down. Fortunately, it appears Raiden, Jax and Sonya step in before Sub-Zero completes his dark deed.
Scorpion Appears to Cole In The Mortal Kombat Trailer
In the Mortal Kombat trailer, there’s a shot where Cole seems to have a split-second vision of Scorpion, engulfed in the hellish flames of the Netherrealm. Later on, Cole can be seen standing alongside Scorpion as he battles against Sub-Zero. It’s become clear that Scorpion will be more of a hero this time around, so it makes sense he and Cole would wind up fighting on the same side. But Scorpion appearing to Cole in a vision implies a greater connection than just a shared enemy.
Cole’s Signature Weapon Is A Bladed Tonfa
Recent posters and promotional videos have given Mortal Kombat fans a proper look at Cole's combat outfit – an odd, textured bodysuit – and his apparent weapon of choice, a bladed tonfa. The tonfa has rarely appeared in the games, only ever having been wielded by Jax (briefly), Stryker (as a police baton), and the Edenian warrior Tanya. The combination of Cole’s tonfa stance and his scaly armor has also drawn visual comparisons to Baraka, the fearsome Tarkatan warrior from the game series.
The Edenians and Tarkatans are both pivotal to the overall story of the Mortal Kombat games, especially as they relate to the conquering factions of Outworld. Kitana, one of the franchise’s main heroes, is Edenian, though there are others of her race who’ve sworn loyalty to Emperor Shao Kahn. Aesthetic similarities don’t prove anything, but if Cole were by chance somehow connected to either of these other dimensions, it could explain his importance to Raiden and Shang Tsung.
Who Is Mortal Kombat’s Cole Young?
So, with all that information out of the way, what are the most likely theories for Cole Young’s true identity? In all likelihood, Cole is connected to either Sub-Zero or Scorpion by blood – possibly both. His vision of Scorpion and Sub-Zero’s grudge against him both point to Cole being a descendant of Hanzo Hasashi, but the birthmark could imply a connection to Sub-Zero. The popular theory that Cole might be Johnny Cage seems highly unlikely given comments made by producer Todd Garner about Cage’s intentional absence from the reboot. There is also a longshot chance he could be tied to some characters outside of Earthrealm, such as the Edenians or the Tarkatans. Obviously, it’s impossible to fully nail down Cole’s identity with the fragments that have been teased out so far, but that doesn’t make the mystery any less compelling. When Mortal Kombat releases on April 16, Cole Young’s true identity will finally be revealed.
