Exclusive pre-order bonuses have gained yet another merchant as the massive global warehouse retailer Wal-Mart has joined the fray! A few days ago we revealed a high definition render of Jade's classic costume [full story], which has been confirmed as bonus DLC material for purchasing the rereleases of the Mortal Kombat movies on Blu-ray. Wal-Mart's exclusive DLC costume is now confirmed to be the deadly vixen Mileena! It remains to be seen if Mileena will use a color palette swap of Jade's costume, but it is highly assumed to be the case given the male ninja costumes. We will continue to look out for any official images in regards to this story.

Wal-Mart joins Gamestop (Scorpion), Best Buy (Sub-Zero) and Amazon (Reptile) [full story]as retailers offering exclusive costumes for pre-ordering with their company. Logic suggests Mileena's sister Kitana will also receive the same treatment, though the retailer who will offer this promotion remains a mystery for now.

To place a pre-order with Wal-Mart for Mortal Kombat, click here. Ordering the official Prima strategy guide can be purchased as a combo with the game, and doing so will result in a 25% reduction of the guide's cost. Thanks to Twitter follower @kenps3 and forum member for alerting us to this story! If you would like to contribute news to MK Online, please use our newslead function or contact us on Twitter.

Steve Beran has been contributing to the Mortal Kombat series since 1995's MK3. As a Director of Art, Beran has been responsible for collaborating on some of the goriest moments in the series' long history, for NetherRealm Studios' latest installment in the long running series, Mortal Kombat.

In a new blog for PlayStation.com, Beran is taking fans inside the process with a special look at the conceptual gestation of a finishing move. It's a probing follow-up to similar material feature in January's IGN exclusive Inside the X-Ray featurette. [full story]

With an emphasis on redirecting the series toward it's graphically violent origins, Beran reveals the unprecedent priority fatalities have taken in the construction of Mortal Kombat, in 2011. The process has allowed the team maximum opportunity to create a guaranteed two fatalities per character, with ample opportunity to design and polish the finished product. Modern technologies mean fatalities are now an increasingly elaborate and graphic opportunity to punish and humiliate opponents -- a fact NetherRealm Studios has relished in the making of this game.

The blog describes the importance of every stage of the process, with scrutiny given to the ideas phase, right up to sound design. Included are pictures of Ed Boon's now famous stick figure storyboards, this time detailing Scorpion's sword fatality. Also featured is the plunging stage fatality famously associated with The Pit, as well as another look at Liu Kang's exploding fist fatality, which was featured in both wallpaper artwork, and the recent Liu Kang character vignette (performed on Shang Tsung).

You can find the exclusive blog, along with it's copyrighted pictures, on PlayStation.com. In the blog, Beran also promises the opportunity to glimpse a preview of more fatality action if you pre-order the game via Gamestop. Those who pre-order the game will be provided a code to enter into their MK widget, revealing more lethal finishers!

Mortal Kombat is available April 19 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, in regular and kollector's special editions. All versions of the PS3 game will include the exclusively playable bonus character, Kratos, from Sony's immensely popular God of War series [full story]. PS3 owners are also privy to free "classic" Jade costume DLC [full story], if they buy Mortal Kombat (1995) or Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, released on Blu-Ray April 19!

The folks at IGN have posted a video trailer unveiling the first official confirmation of Noob Saibot! The preview ends long running speculation about the nature of Sub-Zero's appearance in the game, which seemingly threatened to circumvent the creation of Noob Saibot, per recent developments in the story.

The elusive Noob Saibot debuted in Mortal Kombat II, where he appeared as one of three secret characters unlockable through a series of elaborate requirements. In 2005, the mysterious member of the Brotherhood of Shadow was revealed to be the resurrected form of Sub-Zero -- original arch-nemesis to Scorpion, who was successful in exacting his spectral revenge during the tournament of the first Mortal Kombat game (1992).

The trailer suggests this version of the story will see a more enlightened Noob, whose identity as the former Sub-Zero may be known much earlier, to he and others. The trailer includes brief glimpses of either custom intros, or story mode sequences. His "fear me" catchcry can also be heard during the course of the video.

Gameplay suggests Noob will be a high intensity character, boasting special attacks from both his first official playable appearance in Mortal Kombat Trilogy (and home versions of UMK3), and later tag team designs in Mortal Kombat: Deception. Oily shadow clones take the place of his Deception partner, Smoke, to execute a series of combo attacks, practical and stylish in their execution. The unique ability harkens back to his Trilogy Shadow Toss, which appears present alongside a modified version of the Teleport Slam, and his power nullifying "Fireball."

Of special note is Noob's brutal X-Ray attack, which sees a shadow clone tag team Jade in the video, delivering an abdomen sandwiching series of kicks that force the opponent to projectile vomit from the bone crushing impact. Incidentally, this is the first full glimpse of Jade in her playable form. She appeared suffering similar effects in IGN's Inside the X-Ray featurette.

In their release, NetherRealm Studios describe more details:

... Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios unveiling Noob Saibot, previously Sub Zero, a fallen warrior, resurrected by the Netherrealm sorcerer Quan Chi to fulfill a dark objective. A faithful servant and a recent addition to the Brotherhood of Shadow, he plays a key role in helping Shao Kahn in his acquisition of Earthrealm. This intense video focuses on Noob Saibot’s vicious fighting style as he steps closer to his own mysterious shadowy mission.

Mortal Kombat is the most brutal installment of the landmark fighting game to date for release on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in 2011. The game is being developed by the newly re-named NetherRealm Studios, led by Mortal Kombat creator and creative director Ed Boon.

You can find the original article on IGN.com. Thanks to MK Online user for the heads up on this video update, which is also available on YouTube. Be sure to follow MKO on Twitter (@MK_Online) to keep up to date with all the MK-related news! If you've got a newslead, be sure to let us know!

Mortal Kombat is available April 19 in regular and kollector's special editions. Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation will also be officially released on Blu-Ray the same day [full story], with a free "classic" Jade PS3 DLC costume available with the purchase. Get a closer look at the high quality render on MKO!

Mortal Kombat II's hidden beauty Jade was confirmed by Game Informer back in early January [full story] and the existence of a classic themed alternate was confirmed as a bonus for purchasing the re-release of the first two Mortal Kombat movies on Blu-ray [full story].

NetherRealm Studios have provided a a high quality glimpse of the retro Jade design:

The attire pays homage to Jade's first playable appearance in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, rather than her first appearance as a hidden fighter in MK2. This is in contrast to Ermac, who uses the MK1 model for his classic costume [full story] which raises the question whether or not fellow femme fatales Kitana and Mileena will employ a recoloring of this model rather than their MK2 models if they are also given retro DLC costumes.

Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation are officially released on Blu-Ray the same day as the new game, April 19. The Blu-Ray Jade "classic" DLC bonus is available exclusively for the PlayStation 3 version of the game. The costume is expected to be made available to all owners of the game, at a later date.

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!

Lucas [pictured above] is a host and co-producer for video game programme, The Electric Playground, making it reasonable to suspect the Vancouver Mortal Kombat shoot might get a feature on the show, in the near future. Jeri Ryan has shared several photos from the set during her time in Vancouver, as noted in a spotlight on MKO earlier in the week [full story].

Jeri Ryan, Michael Jai White and Darren Shahlavi can all be found on Twitter. Follow MK Online as we continue to cover this exciting story and keep up to date on the actors cast to play your favorite characters in this the first live action Mortal Kombat in over a decade.

Update Feb. 15: IGN is reporting that actor Tahmoh Penikett has joined the cast to play riot cop Kurtis Stryker. Penikett is perhaps most well known as Karl 'Helo' Agathon from the hit series Battlestar Galactica. He has also had roles in television series such as Dollhouse and Cold Squad. Penikett has a Twitter account, which can be accessed here, but it has not been used in some time.

Update Feb. 16: Twitter has once again been the bringer of news regarding Mortal Kombat casting! Ryan Robbins (@RyRobbins) arrived in Vancouver to join the shoot, with Stargate fan-site, GateWorld.net, reporting that he will play Raiden. This comes on the back of clandestine communications MKO had with project Director of Photography, C. Kim Miles, who noted the air in Vancouver will be "electric", with some localized [weather] anomolies expected ^[1].

Update Feb. 17: Twitter continues to be the source of confirmation as Johnny Cage Rebirth actor Matt Mullins confirms his involvement with the digital series!

@Sideswipematt Thanks Everyone! I start shooting my scenes in Mortal Kombat tomorrow!

Matt Mullins is a five time world martial arts champion and master of Shorei Ryu. His acting credits include starring roles in films such as Bloodfist 2050 and Adventures of Johnny Tao: Rock Around the Dragon. In addition, he was a motion capture artist for Nathan Drake in the acclaimed 2007 action video game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. You can follow Matt on Twitter here.

Update Feb. 17 #2: Yet another actor participating in the project has confirmed via Twitter his involvment. Shane Warren Jones will be playing the part of the yellow Lin Kuei cyborg Cyrax in the upcoming 10-episode series. Jones is a Canadian actor who has worked on shows such as Attack of the Show!, Nip/Tuck and Deadliest Warrior in the past few years. You can follow him on Twitter at @ShaneWarrenJ.

Update Feb. 19: After initial reservations, actress Tracy Spiridakos revealed she had been cast to play a new character to the Mortal Kombat universe simply entitled "Blue". Whether or not this is truly a new character remains to be seen, but she did confirm her character would not be princess Kitana.

Spiridakos is perhaps best known in her starring role in the TV series Majority Rules!. Her other acting credits include The Boy She Met Online and appearances in popular series such as Psych and Supernatural. You can follow Tracy on Twitter @tracyspirdakos. Once more information is known on her mystery character, we will be sure to update you!

Thanks to forum members kyzon, queve and all our Twitter followers for their contribution of news sources this update! Mortal Kombat Online will continue to update details on the story, as they become available.