Mortal Kombat star Lewis Tan revealed that the realistic fatality sets for the film sometimes made him feel sick. Adapted from the titular video game franchise, the upcoming movie serves as a reboot of the previous film series released in the nineties. Directed by Simon McQuoid, the martial arts film follows Cole Young (Lewis Tan), a former MMA fighter and Earthrealm warrior. A protagonist with considerable heart and might, Young must train to compete in a Mortal Kombat tournament to protect Earthrealm from the insidious Outworld.
Trained in martial arts, British actor Tan joined the cast as a completely new character created specifically for the movie. Although leading a film for the first time, Tan boasts a substantial repertoire when it comes to stunt coordinating. Over the years, he has performed his own stunts in Iron Fist, Wu Assassins, and Deadpool 2. In terms of fighting technique, Tan integrates numerous forms, including Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Ju-Jitsu, and Japanese katana sword-fighting.
While speaking to Variety, Tan explained the ways in which the film approached the real-world violence of the many fatalities represented within the story. He acknowledged the visceral reaction he experienced when witnessing one of the new sets:
“Yeah, they’re pretty gruesome. I walked on set one day and I didn’t know what was going on, and I accidentally walked into a post-fatality set and I felt pretty sick to my stomach. [Laughs.] I was like, “What the hell is this? What happened here?” It looked like somebody destroyed a buffet line, but there was no food.”
Although shocking to witness, Tan also added that McQuoid sought to respectfully embrace the grisliness of the video game world without sensationalizing it. Overall, he appreciated McQuoid’s vision for a grittier version of Mortal Kombat that paid homage to its origins. Tan revealed that he chose to work on the film because of McQuoid’s ambitious goals, noting that the director referenced The Dark Knight as a source of inspiration. As a result, Tan leaned into the darkness of the narrative while also striving to authentically portray a new type of cinematic hero.
Undoubtedly, fans remain incredibly excited for the upcoming theatrical release of Mortal Kombat. Many viewers have grown up with the iconic video game, spurring noticeable buzz and anticipation for the story to hit screens once again. Hopefully, the movie succeeds in its efforts to accurately embody the spirit of the beloved franchise, even if certain scenes are difficult to stomach.
Source: Variety
