In the latest Mortal Kombat: Legacy casting twist, Michael Jai White has confirmed he will not be returning to the digitally released series -- but will reprise his role for the upcoming feature film!

@sweetre15 I'm coming back to do the Mortal Kombat movie but not the web series.

— Michael Jai White (@MichaelJaiWhite) December 5, 2012

White made an immediate impact headlining the series as man of action, Jackson "Jax" Briggs. Along with Legacy co-stars; Jeri Ryan, Ian Anthony Dale and Matt Mullins -- he was an early adopter for the series, appearing in Kevin Tancharoen's buzz building showreel: Rebirth. He featured prominently in the record breaking first two episodes, battling Darren Shahlavi's Kano.

Updates regarding the feature release have been scarce, but a budget of $40-50 million was recently revealed by producer, Lance Sloan. Jax was confirmed for a role in script teasers posted in June, with a showdown against Kabal an apparent feature.

As we reported back in June that Mortal Kombat: Legacy was to be distributed to iTunes, Xbox Live and Playstation Netowork, it seems Warner Bros. are taking that extra mile and are now to be distributing Legacy on Blu Ray which will be retailed across the world in various stores and online retailers!

Following up last week's debut of Mortal Kombat: Legacy on Machinima, this week continued the storyline introduced in episode 1.

After many months of waiting, Kevin Tanchaeron's digital series Mortal Kombat: Legacy has made its debut on Machinima's Youtube channel.

The first glimpse of director Kevin Tancharoen's upcoming Mortal Kombat: Legacy Webseries has just been unveiled over at prominent gaming website, Machinima as a brief teaser trailer, showing off an ensuing fight between Darren Shahlavi as the ruthless Kano and Michael Jai White as Jax.

It's the first official look at Michael Jai White as he enters the world of Mortal Kombat in the latest photographic offering from live-action series director, Kevin Tancharoen!

The latest webcast episode of IGN Weekly 'Wood features interview bytes from two members of the upcoming Mortal Kombat digital series cast and crew. Series star, Michael Jai White, and producer, Tim Carter, elaborate on the serialized format of the show and attempt to articulate what to expect from its content.

While Jeri Ryan has thoroughly confirmed her involvement (as Sonya Blade) through frequent activity on her Twitter account [full story], a full press release from Warner Premiere has reconfirmed the return of of Michael Jai White (Spawn, The Dark Knight) as Major Jackson "Jax" Briggs, along with English actor, Darren Shahlavi, in the upcoming digitally distributed series, Mortal Kombat.

WB's press release for the Mortal Kombat digital series project is featured in full below:

Warner Premiere today announced initial casting for their upcoming live-action digital new media series "Mortal Kombat" which is based on the iconic gaming franchise. Jeri Ryan, ("Star Trek: Voyager") will reprise her role as the headstrong "Lieutenant Sonya Blade” from the unofficial fan short. She is joined by Michael Jai White ("The Dark Knight") as "Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs" and Darren Shahlavi ("300") as the sly and cunning "Kano."

Kevin Tancharoen who directed and produced the popular, unofficial "Mortal Kombat: Rebirth" fan short (watch below) that garnered over 10 million views worldwide, is bringing the same immersive directing style to this live-action digital new media series. Fans will be able to delve deep into the history of the warriors they know and love including "Sub-Zero" and "Scorpion." Shooting for "Mortal Kombat" is currently underway in Vancouver.

"It's extremely gratifying to have such talented actors playing these iconic roles," said Kevin Tancharoen, Director, Producer and Co-Writer of "Mortal Kombat." "They will bring the essence of 'Mortal Kombat' to life and gamers will be deeply immersed into the game's universe."

"Mortal Kombat" is one of the most celebrated videogame franchises of all time. Since its debut in 1992, it has spawned four arcade games, multiple console-based videogame titles, two movies ("Mortal Kombat" and "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation"), two television series and an animated prequel. Additionally, a new "Mortal Kombat" video game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Ent. will be available April 19, 2011 on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Written by Kevin Tancharoen, Aaron Helbing and Todd Helbing, and available online this spring from Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, the "Mortal Kombat" digital new media series is an anthology of multiple live action shorts. Each episode will provide never-before-revealed insights into characters featured in the upcoming videogame as well as the game's universe.

"Mortal Kombat," the newest chapter of the award-winning videogame franchise, will be on store shelves starting April 19th, 2011. Marking a triumphant return to the series' mature presentation and a reinvention of its classic 2D fighting mechanic, "Mortal Kombat" will introduce a number of new game-play features including tag team, a deeper story mode and nostalgic online and offline arcade battles. Players will be able to choose from an extensive lineup of iconic warriors and challenge their friends in head-to-head competition as well as several new game modes.

Darren Shahlavi, confirmed to star as longtime rival of Jax and Sonya, Kano, is an English actor featured in films such as 300 and Ip Man 2. In addition, he's no stranger to films video games, having appeared in both Alone in the Dark and BloodRayne, as well as providing motion capture for titles such as GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Dragon Age: Origins, and EA Sports MMA. Shahlavi's martial arts credentials follow up on the emphasis on action from many crew members, which include hints that the longtime rivalry between Kano and Sonya will continue in this project.

Darren Shahlavi in the 2010 Hong Kong feature, Ip Man 2

Update Feb. 14: Ian Anthony Dale, on break from filming TV series The Event, has joined the Twitter stampede. The actor will step into the covetted role of Hanzo Hasashi -- the ninja who, in the games, becomes Scorpion. On his transition, Dale notes:

After a week of awesome shooting on #theevent I am back to obsessing over my Japanese for #MortalKombat. Got to be perfect.

Update Feb. 14: A battle damaged Jeri Ryan appears with Vancouver TV personality, Victor Lucas, in the latest MK set photos from the Twittverse! Ryan herself also provides a great shot from the smokey set, kitted out for action as Sonya Blade!

Warner Premiere has today issued an official press release to announce their upcoming ten episode, live-action digital series based on Mortal Kombat. A formality to confirm what was already widely reported January 15th; the release reiterates Kevin Tancharoen's role as director of the shorts, with filming set to start in Vancouver this February.

In reference to Tancharoen's work on the well known Mortal Kombat: Rebirth viral video [full story], the press release makes deliberate note of it's status as an "unofficial fan short." The ten episodes are also described as revealing unseen history regarding the characters fans "know and love", suggesting the digital series may have much closer ties to the video game canon than the urbanized versions seen in Rebirth.

It’s yet to be officially confirmed by anyone whether this is some sort of teaser for an upcoming film or the next game. As well, WB Games has yet to make any kind of official statement. From TRMK: