Mortal Kombat 1’s Ed Boon reveals JCVD Johnny Cage skin on Hot Ones

During a surprise appearance on Hot Ones, Mortal Kombat 1’s Ed Boon showcased a first look at Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Johnny Cage skin.

Mortal Kombat‘s 30-plus-year history is closely tied to beloved martial artist and actor Jean-Claude Van Damme. As Ed Boon and other series veterans have explained in the past, the first game was initially pitched as an experience inspired by Van Damme.

When nothing came of the proposal, Mortal Kombat was born. But Van Damme’s influence lived on in the creation of Johnny Cage, an action movie star who enters the eponymous tournament.

Things came full circle when developer NetherRealm Studios confirmed that MK1 DLC will include a Van Damme skin for Johnny Cage. Now Boon and Co. have shared a few more details, alongside a first look at the skin in question.

First look at Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Johnny in Mortal Kombat 1

Mortal Kombat 1’s eagerly-anticipated launch is right around the corner, meaning the marketing campaign has ramped up significantly. To the surprise of fans, the latest bit of marketing saw series co-creator Ed Boon appear in a short episode of Hot Ones on YouTube.

Boon did more than walk down memory lane while eating hot wings with host Sean Evans, though. The legendary developer also brought along a first look at JCVD’s Johnny Cage skin. Better still, according to Boon, the MK1 DLC will feature both Van Damme’s likeness and voice.

It’s unclear, however, if his voice will only be used for the skin, with MKX and MK11 actor Andrew Bowen returning as Johnny for the rest of the experience. The brief glimpse at Mortal Kombat 1’s Van Damme skin for Johnny Cage appears at the 5:52 mark in the video below:

Players interested in the JCVD skin will have to purchase the Kombat Pack add-on, which will also be included in the Premium Edition ($109.99) and the Kollector’s Edition ($249.99).

Van Damme isn’t the only celebrity lending his likeness and voice talents to the newest Mortal Kombat entry, though. Another recent reveal revolved around the casting of Megan Fox as Nitara, the playable vampire who’s returning to MK for the first time since Armageddon.

Mortal Kombat 1 launches on September 19 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.