Some of the characters from previous "Mortal Kombat" games who returned in "Mortal Kombat 3" were portrayed by new actors since their original portrayers left Midway due to royalty disputes over the use of their likenesses in console versions. Ho Sung Pak (Liu Kang in the first two games, as well as Shang Tsung in the first "Mortal Kombat"), Phillip Ahn (Shang Tsung in "Mortal Kombat II"), Elizabeth Malecki (Sonya Blade), Katalin Zamiar (Kitana/Mileena/Jade) and Daniel Pesina (Johnny Cage and Scorpion/Sub-Zero/Reptile/Smoke/Noob Saibot) were not involved in the production of "MK3". Prior to the release of "Mortal Kombat 3", Daniel appeared in an advertisement for another fighting game, "BloodStorm", which resulted in a false rumor that it got him fired by Midway. All this led to the use of new actors for Liu Kang (Eddie Wong), Sonya Blade (Kerri Hoskins), Shang Tsung and Sub-Zero (both played by John Turk) in "MK3". Richard Divizio (Kano) also took over the role of Noob Saibot (as the character was a recolored Kano in this version). Carlos Pesina, who played Raiden in the first two games, did not appear in "MK3" as a penalty for his involvement in the rival game "Tattoo Assassins", but was still employed by Midway and his character would return in "Mortal Kombat Trilogy", although through the use of recycled sprites from "MKII" and new sprites performed by Sal Divita.