Jax Actor Mehcad Brooks Reveals Struggle With Mortal Kombat Movie Fight Scenes, but Had More Confidence Going Into Mortal Kombat 2

Mehcad Brooks, the histrion who plays Jax successful the Mortal Kombat movies, has revealed his conflict with the combat scenes for the archetypal movie — struggles helium overcame for the imminent sequel.

In a virtual property league up of the merchandise of Mortal Kombat 2, Brooks said that for the archetypal film, released successful 2021, helium took the quality of Jax to his therapist. Major Jackson "Jax" Briggs is simply a seasoned Mortal Kombat who made his debut successful 1993’s Mortal Kombat 2 arsenic a cybernetically-enhanced Special Forces officer. He's known for his signature metallic bionic arms, which helium obtains successful the archetypal movie.

“I really sat with my therapist for astir six sessions and figured retired wherefore helium was who helium was,” Brooks said. “I similar to overthink a quality and past underplay them. And past I deliberation what happened for maine was the archetypal film, I didn't cognize if I belonged successful the warring scenes. So that was the hard portion for me.”

Brooks has a large combat country successful the archetypal movie wherever helium goes up against Joe Taslim, who plays Sub-Zero. Taslim, who reprises his relation for Mortal Kombat 2 — this clip arsenic Bi-Han — is simply a martial creator who starred successful 2011’s The Raid, 2013’s Fast & Furious 6, and 2016’s Star Trek Beyond. During the scene, Sub-Zero turns Jax’s arms into crystal earlier ripping them off, starring to Jax’s rebirth of sorts arsenic the cybernetically-enhanced Special Forces serviceman we cognize from the video games.

Behind the scenes, however, Brooks struggled to consciousness similar helium belonged successful the combat scenes, fixed the martial arts expertise and acquisition of his co-stars. During the property conference, helium recalled 1 country successful which helium “messed up,” starring to Taslim accidentally punching him successful the face.

“What you saw successful the movie was my tendency to beryllium the champion astatine what I was doing, matching my devotion, right? But successful the rehearsals, I was like, ‘I'm not getting this right.’ I was 5% distant for a period and I virtually broke down successful my edifice country successful tears and I was like, ‘Do I beryllium here?’ And it was intelligence due to the fact that I'd ne'er done a 27-step choreography with Joe Taslim. And I messed up erstwhile and helium punched maine successful the face. And determination was thing astir that, that I knew I belonged determination arsenic an actor, but I didn't cognize if I belonged determination arsenic a fighter. And I'm truly hard connected myself erstwhile it comes to that benignant of thing.”

However, with the confirmation of the sequel, and being asked to instrumentality for it, Brooks felt a newfound assurance successful the combat scenes.

“When I got to the 2nd movie, I was like, ‘Oh, I got this.’ And it's truly affirming due to the fact that we had specified a large reception from the fans for the archetypal one. So it was precise helpful.”

Trailers for Mortal Kombat 2 person shown Jax going up against Jade, played by Tati Gabrielle, and Shao Kahn, played by Martyn Ford, truthful helium surely has his enactment chopped out.

Mortal Kombat 2 hits theaters May 8, 2026.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].