The new Mortal Kombat will star iconic ice ninja Sub-Zero as one of its main villains, and it’s possible he could even transform into his shadowy alter ego, Noob Saibot. The reboot looks to be taking inspiration primarily from the early Mortal Kombat arcade games, with an ensemble of classic fighters like Liu Kang, Jax, Kano and Sonya battling for the fate of Earthrealm. The rivalry between Scorpion and Sub-Zero will also play a major part in the story, with the latter set to be the antagonist this time around.
Though most of the characters, plotlines, and fatalities in Mortal Kombat seem to be pulling directly from the video games, there are already a number of clear changes. The Scorpion and Sub-Zero rivalry story has been moved back to feudal Japan, rather than the modern-day setting of the video games. Cole Young, the film’s lead protagonist, is an entirely new fighter never before seen in the franchise. And despite being a fan-favorite, it doesn’t look like Johnny Cage will be appearing.
Sub-Zero’s new movie costume and abilities look to be in line with what fans know from the games, but he too has received some changes going into the reboot. Director Simon McQuoid has called the ninja the main antagonist of the movie, and the Mortal Kombat trailer makes Scorpion look like the hero of the feud, driven by a justifiable desire for revenge. There’s a lot that’s still unknown about both characters’ roles in the film, however, and it’s possible that the iconic ice ninja could even turn into Noob Saibot, as he does in the Mortal Kombat games.
Who Is Noob Saibot? Mortal Kombat Character Explained
The story of Sub-Zero in the Mortal Kombat games is a long and complicated one. In life, Sub-Zero – real name Bi-Han – was an assassin of the feared Lin Kuei clan. Bi-Han killed rival warrior Hanzo Hasashi, who was then resurrected as Scorpion – a wraith seeking vengeance against his murderer. When Scorpion eventually killed Sub-Zero, he too was brought back as an agent of Quan Chi, the same sorcerer who resurrected Hanzo. The new, ghastly Bi-Han, now known as Noob Saibot, exchanged his ice powers for shadow magic, possessing the ability to vanish, teleport, and create dark clones of himself in battle.
All remaining emotion, comion, or humanity Bi-Han had left was stripped from him when he became Noob Saibot. He became an agent of various evil masters, and fought to torment both Scorpion and his own younger brother, Kuai Liang, who donned the mantle of Sub-Zero after Bi-Han’s death. Noob Saibot is one of the Mortal Kombat franchise's most powerful and dangerous villains, and he’s been a mainstay of the series since Mortal Kombat II.
Noob Saibot Has Been Teased For Mortal Kombat 2021
Since the Sub-Zero in the new Mortal Kombat movie has been confirmed to be Bi-Han, rather than Kuai Liang, many have speculated that a Noob Saibot transformation could be part of his arc. Joe Taslim, who plays Sub-Zero in the film, has even hinted at a possible Noob Saibot transformation, mentioning the character in an interview and discussing Bi-Han’s balancing act between his humanity and the “pitch black” allure of his dark magic. That particular phrasing is curious given that Noob is a shadow ninja himself, and the quote confirms that Bi-Han hasn’t completely succumbed to evil in Mortal Kombat. That could explain why he’s still using his ice magic, and it could foreshadow a Noob Saibot turn if he goes fully to the dark side by the end of the film.
How Sub-Zero Could Become Noob Saibot In Mortal Kombat 2021
Quan Chi hasn’t been confirmed for the new Mortal Kombat, leaving the method of Scorpion and Sub-Zero’s resurrection unknown. Sub-Zero works as an agent of Outworld under Shang Tsung in the new movie, and it’s possible that he isn’t dead at all – rather, that he’s been kept alive for hundreds of years through sorcery, and in exchange for his service has been granted the power of ice. In any scenario, it seems that the reboot’s Bi-Han is still partially a man, not yet fully given over to the allure of pure evil.
Over the course of the Mortal Kombat reboot, that could change. A few different likely scenarios could all send Sub-Zero over the edge, turning him into the vicious Noob Saibot. If Scorpion is victorious in their duel and kills what’s left of Bi-Han, it could lead to him being resurrected as the shadow ninja. Similarly, if Sub-Zero goes rogue from Shang Tsung in order to deal with Scorpion, the sorcerer could send him to an even darker place as punishment. And of course, it’s also possible that Bi-Han openly chooses to give up what’s left of his soul in exchange for the power necessary to beat Scorpion, turning him into Noob Saibot voluntarily.
Sub-Zero's Noob Saibot Transformation Can Setup Mortal Kombat 2
In all likelihood, even if Noob Saibot does appear in Mortal Kombat, it will be a late development in the film. A lot of Sub-Zero footage has already been released, suggesting that Bi-Han remains in that form for most of the movie. Producer Todd Garner and different of the Mortal Kombat cast have all hinted at the potential for an MK film franchise if the reboot does well, however, and a late-film Noob Saibot tease could be a great setup for a potential sequel.
How exactly Noob could tie into a Mortal Kombat 2 will rely on Cole Young, and what exactly his connection to the other characters is. The Mortal Kombat trailer teased Cole’s ties to both Scorpion and Sub-Zero, and his exact lineage and role in the rivalry is still a mystery. One theory holds that Cole could fill the role of Kuai Liang in the new movie, unlocking his own ice powers by the time credits roll. If he becomes a new, benevolent Sub-Zero, Bi-Han turning into Noob Saibot would make a lot more sense and could set up a tense conflict for the next hypothetical film. There’s no guarantee that Noob Saibot will appear in the new Mortal Kombat, but if he does, it could be both a great moment for fans of the character and an excellent way to set up more battles in the future.
