The last of Shang Tsung's minions, Kabal gets a character makeover in the movie. He still sports his trademark hookswords, mask, and respirators, and is still an ex-member of the Black Dragon mercenary organization. But he's also unambiguously villainous, as opposed to a reformed criminal. He's more well known than characters like Reiko and Nitara, but still obscure enough that he's probably dead for good. However, his presence in the film, as well as his interactions with the Black Dragon leader, Kano, suggest that the "Mortal Kombat" movies might bring in some other Black Dragon-related plot elements and characters. Minor characters like Kira, Kobra, Jarek, and Tremor have all been part of the Black Dragon, which at one point in the game was under Kabal's leadership.
This being "Mortal Kombat," the Black Dragon naturally has an opposite: The Red Dragon, its rival and parent organization, a full-fledged crime syndicate whose inclusion in the films could provide a entry point for villains like Hsu Hao and Mavado. The Red Dragon is also a gateway to some of the larger-scale lore of the "Mortal Kombat" series. After all, the Red Dragon was created by an Edenian half-god named Daegon, and was named after an actual red dragon. Indeed, dragons play a pivotal role in "Mortal Kombat" mythology, which is why the franchise's symbol remains the image of a dragon to this day.
