The official gameplay reveal for Mortal Kombat XI took place yesterday, during a live streaming event in which we learned more about the game that is slated for release on April 23rd, including what we can expect from some of the game’s most iconic characters.
One such announcement came from Creative Director of NetherRealm Studios and co-creator of Mortal Kombat, Ed Boon, who was excited to reveal that “real-life badass” and current WWE Raw Women's Champion, Ronda Rousey, is the voice behind veteran fighter, Sonya Blade.
Rousey actually teased the reveal via Twitter, stating, “The invitation I’ve been waiting to accept my whole life. Don’t worry, Earthrealm is safe with me.”
From her love of video games, to her abilities in the ring, it makes sense for Rousey – who has had plenty of acting successes – to voice Mortal Kombat’s longest-tenured and toughest female. The UFC Hall of Famer prepared for the role as Sonya Blade by getting into her headspace and emulating her fighting style, which included a love of Sonya Blade’s rolling armbar move, which Rousey can actually perform in real-life.
In fact, Rousey’s role as Sonya Blade was likely a long time coming. While rumors swirled around the James Wan-directed Mortal Kombat movie adaptation reboot, Rousey expressed interest in the possibility of playing Sonya Blade.
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“Even though I loved playing Princess Kitana, because you got that crouch-down and punch-up cheat on the Sega Genesis, I think that I would be much better cast as Sonya Blade,” Rousey said last year. “My personality is much more similar to hers, and my look and demeanor. I feel like I could much easier slip into the mindset and skin of Sonya Blade than someone like Kitana. I don’t really feel like I could be the royalty-type very well. I couldn’t really do royalty. It’d take a lot of studying. I think it would just be a lot easier and more natural to be Sonya Blade.”
That dream has now become a reality, as Rousey takes the reins as Sonya Blade. The other characters announced at the reveal were Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Skarlet, Baraka, Raiden, Geras, and Shao Khan. We’re hoping that we get to see a Ronda Rousey-voice Sonya Blade take on her laser-eyed nemesis, Kano.
Stay tuned to The Gamer as more Mortal Kombat XI news is released.