A classic fighting franchise could become the next elusive one if given the chance

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Secret may have only lasted two seasons, but it turned out to be one of the most well-received video game adaptations to date. The series was a huge hit on Netflix and brought both hardcore together League of Legends fans and non-players alike. Although the short life of Secret is bittersweet, the series will hopefully serve as a blueprint for future animated game adaptations.

Now that Secret has come to an end, it will be interesting to see which games, if any, get a similar animated treatment. There are plenty of franchises that could bring forth the same character-driven plots as Secretbut there's one series in particular that might be a shoo-in for the same approach. Mortal Kombat has boasted lots of customizations, but to get Secret treatment might be just what the former needs to finally get a worthy spin-off series.

Mortal Kombat 2 Alternate Skins

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Mortal Kombat 2 Taking risks in one area would be a blessing for the games

The sequel to the 2021 live-action Mortal Kombat movie is on the way, and if it took a few risks in one area, it could pay off in the next MK game.

A treasure trove of characters and stories

The Mortal Kombat the list is filled to the brim with fantastic characters. From Liu Kang and Johnny Cage to Mileena and Scorpion, some of gaming's most iconic characters are the product of Mortal Kombat. Even better, there's a deep well of lore for writers to draw from about a new animated Mortal Kombat series will ever come to fruition. The intertwined stories of these characters provide the perfect stage for drama and twists, but alas, Mortal Kombat have yet to have a non-game adaptation do this well.

Secret was nominated for Best Adaptation at the 2024 Game Awards.

Mortal Kombat's live-action and animated spin-offs have struggled

  • Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins – 1995 (animated)
  • Mortal Kombat – 1995 (live action)
  • Mortal Kombat: Annihilation – 1997 (live action)
  • Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge – 2020 (animated)
  • Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms – 2021 (animated)
  • Mortal Kombat – 2021 (live-action)
  • Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind – 2022 (animated)
  • Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match – 2023 (animated)
  • Mortal Kombat 2 – 2025 (live action)
  • Mortal Kombat Legends: Fall of Edenia – TBA (animated)

This is a significant number of adaptations, but unfortunately they have mostly received either mixed or negative reviews. While some of the animated films have received better feedback than their live-action counterparts, a streaming series may be a better route for Mortal Kombat to take.

With a series that Secretit's easier to delve deeper into character dynamics and their backstories, whereas movies only allow a short amount of time. For a series as character-focused as Mortal Kombatmulti-episode seasons could finally give the fighting series the poignant adaptation it deserves. Even more important, however, is a Mortal Kombat spin-off is in need of the right team behind it.

Mortal Kombat 2the next live-action film, is scheduled for release on October 24, 2025.

The team behind Arcane was the secret ingredient Mortal Kombat needs

Series creators Christian Linke and Alex Yee worked with French animation studio Fortiche to bring Secret to life. While a hypothetical Mortal Kombat series may not be able to secure the same team, as the franchise is under Warner Bros. ownership and is not affiliated with Netflix, producers and animators with a similar vision could potentially make an adaptation that is just as special.

With rumors to suggest so Mortal Kombat 1 may be coming to an end sooner than expected, it's unclear what the franchise's next move might be. The next film is slated for the latter half of the year, but beyond that it's a mystery. Mortal Kombat has great potential to present an emotionally driven series or movie, but it has struggled to hit the notes that Secret excelled at. Mortal Kombat may never get a similar animated series, but it has almost all the ingredients needed to be a worthy one Secret follow-up.

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