Actor Mehcad Brooks On 'Mortal Kombat' Movie, Fatalities, and More

For the longest time now, video game movies have consistently been mediocre.

For every solid big-screen adaptation of a major video game IP, there’s a horrid film in tow that is better left to the garbage bins of cinema. But in recent years, the sub-genre of video game movies has shockingly improved. The first Wreck-It Ralph offered gamers young and old a deep dive into the world of gaming that was far better than expected. Then there are releases such as 2020’s Sonic The Hedgehog live-action thrill ride, Detective Pikachu, and The Angry Birds Movie 2 that also turned out to be halfway decent viewing experiences.

There’s another video game film that’s looking to continue the upward trend of the sub-genre as a whole. And what’s even cooler is the fact that it’s a complete blockbuster reboot that replicates the blood and gore that its associated franchise is known for. That film is Mortal Kombat, which looks like it’ll be a violently fun time that sticks close to what works so well in the games. The first trailer footage blew everyone’s minds and definitely got us excited to see the denizens of Earthrealm and Netherrealm duke it out over the fate of their respective worlds.

One of the fighters that will be a big part of the film is Jaxon Briggs aka “Jax.” And the actor that’s taking over such an integral role is Mehcad Brooks. Brooks took some time out of his busy schedule to chat with us about his experiences while working on the film, the video games he gets a kick out of playing, and what it took for him to become as buff as the badass character he plays.

Oh, and before we forget - Mortal Kombat is slated to hit theatres and HBO Max on April 23.

ONE37pm: I'm sure you did plenty of research on the MK games when you got this role. Are there any Fatalities that truly made you cringe? And are there any that made you go "I hope we get to do that in the movie?"

Brooks: ALL OF THEM.

ONE37pm: A lot of people might not know this, but you actually had a role in the puppet movie Magic: The Gathering - The Musical. How'd you end up nabbing that role? And how was the filming experience overall?

Brooks: A friend of mine was the creator of the movie and she asked me to do it and I was happy to oblige. Being an all-around theatre nerd, I really enjoyed it and look forward to doing more voice acting. 

ONE37pm: Do you consider yourself much of a gamer? And do you have any games that you play on the regular?

Brooks: Sometimes I feel like I play Mortal Kombat and GTA to an unhealthy point.

ONE37pm: What's a crucial bit of advice you'd like to pass along to all the aspiring actors & actresses out there?

Brooks: Keep going, understand that the word “No” does not mean “never.” “No” in the acting world means “just not right now.”

ONE37pm: Time to get into heavy promotion mode, Mr. Brooks. Feel free to tell everyone why they shouldn't miss Mortal Kombat once it finally comes out.

Brooks: Mortal Kombat is a hell of a good time, it’s the best hand-to-hand combat in a movie I have ever seen. Even if you’re not a Mortal Kombat fan it is a bonafide action-adventure that feels as big as Star Wars, The Hunger Games, and The Lord of The Rings.