Mortal Kombat II Star Ludi Lin Breaks Down the Emotional Liu Kang Fight Fans Can’t Stop Talking About
At a time when blockbuster movies are often criticized for relying too heavily on CGI and spectacle, Ludi Lin says Mortal Kombat II was built differently — for the fans first.
Following the film’s massive opening weekend, Lin sat down for an interview to discuss the intense brotherhood between Liu Kang and Kung Lao, the brutal training behind the movie’s standout fight sequence, the future of the franchise, and why practical action still matters in modern cinema.
“For us, it was always about giving the fans something even better than what they expected,” Lin explained while reflecting on the response to the film. “You don’t go into a Mortal Kombat movie expecting a Scorsese-style drama. You want the fandom, the action, the fan service, and the spectacle.”
RELATED: Ana Thu Nguyen on Her Path to Queen Sindel and ‘Mortal Kombat 2’
The actor revealed that the emotional Liu Kang and Kung Lao fight — now widely considered one of the movie’s most talked-about scenes — was inspired by classic martial arts legends including Jet Li and Donnie Yen, along with old-school Shaolin cinema and films like Once Upon a Time in China.
According to Lin, the fight wasn’t designed to simply look cool — it was meant to feel heartbreaking.
“We treated it almost like a breakup,” he shared. “There’s brotherhood, competition, sadness, rage… every movement had emotion behind it.”
The actor also revealed that the sequence required months of preparation after learning he would be facing co-star Max Huang in one of the franchise’s most physically demanding scenes yet.
“As soon as I found out, I started training immediately because Max is already years ahead when it comes to Chinese martial arts,” Lin said. “We had to make sure every beat felt authentic.”
One of the biggest surprises from the interview was Lin’s passionate defense of practical action over excessive CGI. While many modern superhero projects rely heavily on digital doubles and effects, he emphasized that most of Mortal Kombat II was performed physically by the cast themselves.
“None of it is really CGI,” Lin explained. “The effects are added onto what we as human beings are performing. That’s why the fights feel visceral.”
He even admitted he prefers the animatronic version of Goro from the original Mortal Kombat over modern CGI creations.
“I actually lean toward the ‘95 Goro,” he laughed. “There’s something about practical effects that just feels more real.”
Beyond the action, Lin teased that there’s still much more story left to tell for Liu Kang. While discussing the future of a possible third film, he referenced Chinese mythology and the balance between the dragon and phoenix as inspiration for the character’s ongoing journey.
“I want him to evolve even more into Earthrealm’s greatest champion,” he said.
Lin also confirmed that several emotional scenes were ultimately cut from the final version of the movie, including deeper moments involving Kitana, Jade, and Sonya Blade.
While fans continue debating character matchups and franchise lore online, one thing became clear during the conversation: the cast understands exactly what this franchise means to longtime fans.
“We made this movie for the fans,” Lin repeated several times throughout the interview. And judging by audience reactions, fans are already demanding round three.
