‘Mortal Kombat 11’ Nearly Included A Heath Ledger-Inspired Joker

Mortal Kombat 11 almost included a version of Joker clearly influenced by Heath Ledger’s legendary take on the villain.

While fans are tentatively awaiting The Joker’s arrival in Mortal Kombat 11, several concept designs for the villain have surfaced online, with many players voicing their disappointment that one of these versions wasn’t chosen over the generic final look for the legendary character. But one concept design that the Mortal Kombat 11 team debated using is clearly inspired by Heath Ledger’s Joker from Christopher Nolans’ The Dark Knight.

The design inspired by Heath Ledger’s Joker is in the middle of the alternate designs for the villain, clearly showing the face paint worn by the actor in live-action. The other designs are equally impressive, with influences from Jack Nicholson’s Joker from Tim Burton’s Batman, as well as a look that seems to be partially inspired by the New 52 comics with the pointed hairline and the stapled-on face. Take a look at the Mortal Kombat 11 design inspired by Heath Ledger’s Joker below.

Are you disappointed the skin influenced by Heath Ledger’s Joker didn’t make it into Mortal Kombat 11? Sound off in the comments below!

The Mortal Kombat franchise launched with the first video game in 1992 and has since expanded to include several sequels. Plot details for the new Mortal Kombat film are currently unknown, though the video games center on a roster of characters from different realm who fight for supremacy.

The video game was first adapted into a Mortal Kombat feature film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. The film earned a worldwide total of $122 million and is widely regarded as one of the better adaptations of a video game.

Directed by Simon McQuoid from a script written by Greg Russo, Mortal Kombat stars Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax,  Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, Sisi Stringer Mileena, Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero, and Lewis Tan in an undisclosed role.

Mortal Kombat is scheduled to be released in theaters on January 15, 2021.

Source: Twitter