Interview MORTAL KOMBAT: How Lewis Tan and Mehcad Brooks Make Their Characters Human

Kapanlagi.com - MORTAL KOMBAT is filled with fierce and deadly fighters. Take for example Sub-Zero who has the power to create and control ice or Raiden who can send people to various places using his lightning. The characters in MORTAL KOMBAT are anything but ordinary. 

Nevertheless, producer Todd Garner mentioned in an interview with KapanLagi that the vision for this film is to make the characters as relatable as possible to everyday life. So, how do the actors strive for that? KapanLagi had the opportunity to chat with Lewis Tan (portraying Cole Young) and Mehcad Brooks (portraying Jax) and ask them about it.

1. Lewis Tan Easily Plays Cole Young

Lewis portrays Cole Young, a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter who is suddenly targeted by killer ninjas and must participate in a life-or-death tournament called Mortal Kombat. All of this is because he has a birthmark in the form of a dragon tattoo, which turns out to be an "invitation" to join this tournament. For Lewis, the role of Cole Young is both easy and challenging.

"For my character, there are both easy and difficult aspects because he is a new character. I have a certain freedom as an actor, and that is enjoyable. On the other hand, there is pressure because the other characters in MORTAL KOMBAT already have their own backstory. They have a large fan base. There is a lot of material for research. I don't have that, which could guide me," he explained to KapanLagi.

Lewis hopes that his acting will make Cole Young a new character who can stand alongside, be liked, and fit in with the other characters.

2. Imagining Jax's Figure in the Real World

Copyright: Warner Bros Pictures

Meanwhile, Mehcad Brooks portrays the character Jax. It is told that Jax is a special forces member who has to lose both of his hands (you can see it in the trailer) because they were frozen and shattered by Sub-Zero. He then uses robotic hands as replacements. 

Unlike Cole Young, Jax is a character who is already popular among fans. This makes Mehcad need to delve deeper into his character. 

"For me, Jax is... as Lewis said, there are many characters who already have their own background stories. We have been playing the character for over twenty years. Jax is also like that. So, I started thinking... what would he be like in the real world? If he is a special forces member whose task is to hunt down multi-dimensional assassins. What kind of figure should he be? I then tried to understand it myself. To understand what he does to be like that. We often find it very easy to judge people like this. However, I want to make Jax a figure who can be on any side (good or evil) and we feel grateful because he chooses Earth Realm (the good side). To kill a monster, you have to become a monster," he explained.

3. All for the Fans

The realistic approach to these fantastic characters is nothing but a bridge between the film and the fans, as well as those who are watching MORTAL KOMBAT for the first time. 

"For me, MORTAL KOMBAT has been a part of our pop culture for a long time. We certainly want to give what we can to this film as actors and also as fans of the game. What you will see on camera are people who appreciate the characters and their world (Mortal Kombat Universe). We pour everything into this. We strive to make our characters as real as possible. What's cool is that this is the first game adaptation film where the characters feel real. And at the same time, these characters are in a truly unreal situation beyond the world we inhabit. You will feel close to the characters. That's what makes it special," Mehcad explained.

And for the above needs, director Simon McQuoid has designed all the details in his film so that what is shown truly satisfies fans and viewers.

"He really takes care of this film by showing what is in the franchise and also taking the characters on their emotional journey. That's an important thing, which has never been done before in a video game adaptation film," Lewis concluded.

MORTAL KOMBAT has been playing in theaters since April 14. Watch the action of the great fighters in this Earth Realm at the cinema. Stay healthy by following the protocols, KLovers.

4. Watch an Interview Video with the Cast of MORTAL KOMBAT

(kpl/dka)