Why ‘Mortal Kombat II’ star Ludi Lin wants to work with Pinoy artists
As he returns as Liu Kang in “Mortal Kombat II,” Hollywood actor Ludi Lin said he has felt the support coming from the Philippines, a country he also has personal ties to.
“I love my fans in the Philippines. I see your messages all the time,” Ludi said in his exclusive virtual interview with The STAR ahead of the “Mortal Kombat II” theatrical run here starting today (May 6).
“I’ve got lots of family in the Philippines in Manila and Baguio. I love traveling there. It’s beautiful. There’s so much of the Philippines I haven’t explored.
“Actually, I’ve never been to any of the great tropical beaches in the Philippines, only in some of the cities to see my family.”
But before getting into his Pinoy connection, Ludi first talked about what fans can expect from his return as the Shaolin monk in the sequel to the 2021 film adaptation of the popular video game franchise.
According to the actor, “We’ve been waiting on it for so long just to wait for the right spot to release it. And now we’ve got a summer spot. It’s in IMAX.”
Without giving too much away, Ludi promised that the sequel has “leveled up in every single way.”
“The cast is bigger. More fights, the action’s bigger, more fatalities, the storyline’s deeper,” he said. “I think it’s just what the fans want.”
One sequence in the “Mortal Kombat” follow-up that made him “super proud” is the fight between Liu Kang and Kung Lao (played by Max Huang), whose “resurrection” after dying in “Mortal Kombat 1” has been teased in the trailers.
“Now that we’ve all seen the trailers, Kung Lao is back in a different form. He’s a remnant. And the clash between the brothers, both emotionally and physically, how we designed the fight, it’s going to be brilliant,” he said.
As an Asian actor in Hollywood, Ludi sees Liu Kang as more than just another part.
He recalled how the character, going back to the original 1995 “Mortal Kombat” film, made an impression on him because of what he represented on the big screen.
“It was really rare, uncommon and very unique for a character to be displayed in the main role in a Hollywood movie, and looking fantastic and being the hero,” he said. “That has always left a mark in my heart.”
So to be starring in “Mortal Kombat II” could be counted as a breakthrough, if not “a milestone for me because I know how rare it is to get a sequel in any movie,” Ludi reflected.
“And I truly think that the sequel is actually better than what we did before in every single way. So, I can’t wait to celebrate it with everybody.”
Meanwhile, Ludi admitted that Liu Kang has also influenced how he approaches his own life. Asked how much of the Shaolin monk’s philosophy he relates with, the actor said he has tried various ways to connect with Liu Kang over the years.
“As an actor, I tried to put as much of myself into the characters as possible. I think that’s the most honest way to play anything, even a fantastical Shaolin monk from a ‘Mortal Kombat’ video game,” he said.
“I try to live my life very minimalistically, try to stay present, try to train every single day and devote myself to a good balance of mental, social and physical.”
The actor, who spends most of his time in Vancouver, Canada when he’s not working, described his regular day as beginning with something physical.
“Usually, I wake up in the morning and I go to the gym for about an hour and a half or two hours, eat something great, and then I take my dog out for probably a hike in the mountains, in the backwoods,” he shared.
After that, he makes time for “something mental and social.”
“I try to do some reading or listen to a fantastic podcast that’s something mental, meet up with some friends, (which is) something social,” he said.
“Usually, when I have those three things in balance, I’m pretty happy. That’s how monks live, too, right? They need to have all those things in balance,” he added.
As for his diet, the once-vegan Ludi is now “mainly plant-based” after incorporating fish into his meals.
“That just makes it easier for me to go out and socialize. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I’ve decided to do that,” he said.
Still, he keeps his approach to food simple and tries to be mindful of where it comes from.
“I really watch where all my food is coming from, try to do it through sustainable resources — whether it’s agriculture or fish farming,” he further told The STAR.
“And when I go out to a restaurant or travel somewhere to taste local cuisine, it’s so special for me because I’m not constantly seeking it. It becomes a really special event.
“That just goes back to what kind of living holistically means to me, to simplify everything and also celebrate everything that is special,” he added.
At this point in his career as an entertainer, Ludi remains open to different kinds of stories, from blockbusters to independent films, and even comedy. Aside from being attached to “Mortal Kombat,” he had built for himself a genre-heavy resume covering Hollywood franchises, streaming projects, indie dramas and Asian-led storytelling — “Power Rangers,” “Aquaman,” “Black Mirror,” to Netflix’s “Ghost Bride” and more recently, “Art of the Eight Limbs.”
“At this phase of where I am now as a person, I’m constantly eager to be surprised at what comes toward me,” he said.
“Whether that’s comedy, whether that’s learning something new like standup comedy, whether that’s exploring an aspect of myself that I haven’t explored before in storytelling and in film.”
Of course, he values the reach of a major franchise like “Mortal Kombat,” especially with the sequel expected to draw an even wider audience.
“I think a movie like ‘Mortal Kombat’ will just get seen by as many people as possible around the world. Not just being released in Hollywood. I mean, it’s the first time a ‘Mortal Kombat’ movie has been confirmed to be released in China,” he said.
“That means the audience will grow even bigger. So to touch as many people as possible, that’s super important for me, too.”
But circling back to his Pinoy connection, The STAR asked if he would be open to working on a project here.
“I would love to work in the Philippines,” he was quick to express. “You guys have great martial arts, you guys have great love stories, and the people are so beautiful and so any chance I get, of course, I would love to connect.”
His last visit, he recalled, was around 2015. He enjoys learning about the country’s history, culture and geography. And one place he hopes to see someday is Donsol for whale shark encounters.
“That always has been a dream of mine, to swim with like a pod of whale sharks,” he said. “I love the ocean. I love ocean life. I would love to visit.”
As for the possibility of collaborating with Filipino artists, Ludi said he would be “more than enthusiastic.”
He mentioned recently meeting Liza Soberano in Los Angeles.
“I just met her and she’s so kind and beautiful and wonderful,” he said. “And I see lots of other film stars, film-related stars and TV coming out of the Philippines. And yeah, I think there’s so much room to explore.”
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