After many leaks and rumors, NetherRealm Studios has finally confirmed that Homelander and Peacemaker are coming to Mortal Kombat 1 as special guest characters. They’re joined by Omni-Man, the Image Comics hero created by Robert Kirkman, who also starred in Invincible, and returning Mortal Kombat characters Quan Chi, Ermac, Takeda, Li Mei, Tanya, and Baraka.
NetherRealm Studios revealed the new Mortal Kombat 1 roster additions at the San Diego Comic-Con panel, featuring several members of the development team and series director Ed Boon.
Homelander and Peacemaker are ready for Kombat
Homelander and Peacemaker are two of the most notable additions to Mortal Kombat 1’s roster. They’re part of a well-established tradition of guest stars that previously included the Xenomorph, Predator, and other characters. Amazon’s listing revealed a few months ago that the characters Homelander Quan Chi, Omni-Man, Takeda, and Ermac would be joining the first DLC Kombat Pack, but this is the first time it’s actually been revealed.
Homelander has become known as the main antagonist of The Boys, and with a full Gen 5 release date, he’s featured in many games these days. His other appearances include a cameo in Call of Duty, where his heat vision proves to be very powerful. The Peacemaker, played by John Cena in the series written by James Gunn, has also proven popular since its spin-off debuted in 2022. In a press release, Warner Bros. revealed that the film will be released in the future. NetherRealm’s parent company says Homelander won’t be available as a playable character until the spring of 2024.
Omni-Man isn’t as well known as Homelander and Peacemaker, but it will be familiar to comic book fans. Played by JK Simmons in Invincible, his reveal coincides with the imminent release of the show’s second season.
In addition to the six new playable characters, the first Kombat pack will also include Jean-Claude Van Damme’s skin for Johnny Cage, as well as five new Kameo fighters: Ferra, Johnny Cage, Khameleon, Mavado, and Tremor.
Li Mai returns with Tanya and Baraka
In addition to its own DLC characters, NetherRealm Studios has also confirmed that Li Mei will be joining the Mortal Kombat 1 roster. Li Mei, previously played by Tara Strong, has appeared as a non-playable character in Mortal Kombat X. His addition is part of a broader effort to redefine the origins of familiar Mortal Kombat characters.
Elsewhere, Tanya and Baraka will also be playable. All three appear to be listed rather than appearing as Kameos – a somewhat controversial system that has turned some fan-favorite characters into unplayable passes. Baraka is a particularly well-known character whose roots go back to Mortal Kombat II.
Mortal Kombat 1 was announced during the Warner Bros. earnings call. In May. Discovery. The 2019 Mortal Kombat 11 sequel, the next major installment in the franchise, serves as a reboot of the series and a “reintroduction of the Mortal Kombat Universe.”
Mortal Kombat 1 is coming to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch on September 19th. For more information on Mortal Kombat 1, check out our interview with series creator Ed Boon on why NetherRealm chose to develop Mortal Kombat 1 over Injustice 3.
Find all the rest of our San Diego Comic-Con coverage here.
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