His video which was only meant for the executives at Warner Bros. was accidentally posted on YouTube. Once it found it's way online the video has become a sensation, resulting in millions of views, and backed by celebrity tweets.
Warner Bros. then put Tancharoen to the test by giving him $2 million to create a web series called “Mortal Kombat: Legacy.” The series was also well received and Warners gave him the keys to the kingdom. He will direct the next full featured film based on the popular video game. Filming will start in March, and the movie will hit theaters in 2013.
BF: In all honestly, when you made “Rebirth,” how likely did you think it was you’d be here now, about to direct a full-length feature film?
KT: It was such a crapshoot for me. I honestly felt it was 50/50. Previous to doing it I had some discussions with Warner executives about Mortal Kombat, but they didn’t go anywhere. This video was meant to be a showcase that I didn’t only have to do dancing stuff, even though that was primarily my background. I was desperate to get into the genre space. As a director you can get typecast just like an actor. I knew nobody would risk putting my name in front of a genre movie. There would be an outcry by fans with everyone asking, “Why are you getting the guy who did ‘Fame’ to make ‘Mortal Kombat’?” I knew I had to get some credibility.
BF: You created some new origins for the Mortal Kombat characters in your Web shorts. Will you use similar origins in the movie?
KT: Yes. Although we’re very adamant that you don’t have to be a fan of the games to understand what’s happening in the movie. It will be an origin story that you can understand completely from the film. Over nine games, the mythology has gotten quite complicated.
BF: You’re making this movie for Warner Bros. and Mortal Kombat is now made by Warner Bros. So have you gotten to work together with [Mortal Kombat creator] Ed Boon?
KT: Yes, Ed Boon is completely supportive. He understands that to tell a really good story, Mortal Kombat needs to be taken back to basics. [Writer Oren Uziel and I] sat down and talked with Ed over breakfast at Comic-Con. A lot of our ideas are in line. I’ve got to admit I was very nervous … but a lot of our ideas connected.
BF: So is there any question your movie will be rated R and be just as violent as fans expect?
KT: I want to do it rated R and all the discussions have been for it to be rated R. I want it to be bloody, but in a natural sense and not gratuitous, crazy spurting pools of blood. That takes it to a different level of camp.
BF: So you want to have more of a Christopher Nolan-like approach than the 1990s movies?
KT: The cartoonish version has been done. Chris Nolan started the trend of making everything in this type of genre grounded. What took most people by surprise with my shorts, I think, is that you never would think of putting Mortal Kombat in a realistic setting. But I believe it’s a fighting game and it’s meant for that purpose.