Re: MK movie update is apparently on the horizon
http://nerdreactor.com/2013/04/30/interview-mortal-kombat-legacys-brian-tee/
http://nerdreactor.com/2013/04/30/interview-mortal-kombat-legacys-brian-tee/
.When does the first episode come out?
Jonathan: I believe early May is what they said. There’s no official date yet. It’s when they feel comfortable about blasting them out. I’m pretty sure they want to time the release of the finale to the start of Comic-Con.Out of all the character, who is your favorite?
Brian Tee: My favorite character was Sub-Zero. I ain’t gonna lie. It wasn’t Liu Kang.
When I got offered the part, I was like, “Dude, I’m the last guy you want to play Liu Kang. Seriously, there are other guys out there that are kind of Bruce Lee-esque. They searched through my background and my acting, and things that I’ve done in the past and what I really like to do – you know, get into characters and really have an encompassing feel for all this other stuff.” Liu Kang in the video game, to me, when I was a kid coming up, I thought, “That’s like a wannabe Bruce Lee.” He was this one note caricature of a martial artist/kung fu guy. I wanted someone with a lot more depth and a lot more feeling and character struggle.
When the offer came in, I was like, “No,” but they were like, “No, read it. Read it!” I got a great buddy of mine who’s playing Scorpion in the first series and in the second series. [Ian Anthony Dale] gave me a call and he goes, “No, dude. Read it.” So I read it, and it blew my mind. It’s pretty much the Liu Kang saga where he’s the anti-hero of the series. And you see why he’s so angry and frustrated with Kung Lao and why he’s riding the lines between different worlds and realms, whether it’s Outworld or Earthrealm, no one really knows for sure where he wants to go. There’s just so much pain and agony and hatred towards all the elements, that he just wants to lash out upon others in a sense too.
Brian Tee: I would assume they would do it during, just so they can go down there and be like, “No. We have the season finale of Mortal Kombat coming in.”
Yeah.
Brian Tee: So the character was rad, and again, everything is justified. You can see his back story and seeing the reasons why he’s going through this anguish. And that’s what really drew me to the character. As soon as I read it, I was like, “I’m in.”
It’s definitely a new take on the character.
Brian Tee: I feel it is. I think it’s a much more rounded, better, surreal, and visceral take on it, instead of what you’re used to when playing the video game. And so that’s why when I was growing up, Sub-Zero was my favorite character. He’s much more dynamic than Liu Kang, in my eyes. Doing the web series, they’ve completely flipped Liu Kang upside down and I freaking love it. He’s got to be one of my favorite characters I’ve ever played.
I’ve seen photos of Sub-Zero on the set. I’m going to have to admit that I’m not particularly fond of his new outfit. He kind of looks like a dirt bike rider.
Brian Tee: (laughter) I got nothing to do with that, but, you know, I think, production-wise, it being a web series, I couldn’t tell the difference. I’ve done huge movies and large television shows and all this other stuff, and when you say “web series” everyone thinks “smaller budget.” Man, what Kevin Tancharoen was able to do with this budget is literally in comparison to a large studio feature. It was awesome, phenomenal. Despite some of the choices that fans may or may not like, what you’re going to see on screen is something epic. Little things here and there, due to the scope of the series, will add up, and that’s why I think you guys will be blown away.
How did you get attached to the project in the first place?
Brian Tee: Well firstly, I knew that the Mortal Kombat series was happening. And then I gave my buddy Ian a call because he did the first series, and he’s always talked about if there’s ever something to get involved in, it’s this. It being a web series, we’re not really looking out for that, but because Kevin did what he did, like with the first teaser and then the first season after that, it really blew me away. That completely piqued my interest. I didn’t know what character I was going to do, and then the Liu Kang role came up and Kevin actually gave me a call about the characters. Like I said before, I was on the fence and wanted to talk to him about it. We hit it off and were really on the same page on every level in where he and I wanted to take the character.
Is the web series gonna be episodic again? I was also wondering if it’s going to be one story to the next, or is each episode going to be self contained?
Brian Tee: I would say both. There are definitely some episodes that are kind of linear and connected. Then there are ones that kind of separate themselves. It’s not solidified for me that they’re in order of which episode or storyline is going to come through, but it’ll definitely be almost seamless in a sense – even when you jump storyline to storyline. It’ll all intermingle towards the tournament. So I think it’s both elements that you were talking about in particular.
You’ve seen all of the episodes for season one, and I was wondering if that plays into season two or if it’s a separate thing.
Brian Tee: I think it’s just a continuation of. I think what season two does is really go deeper into the characters, their stories and their struggles. Sure it’s establishing the characters who may not have been established in the past, but it really follows more in-depth of their situation and the reasons they’re going to the tournament. There’s more of a story-level base, but then it’s also action-packed, and fans will totally love everything that’s going on in the tournament, the action and the fighting. We had some of the best stunt guys in the world. Garrett Warren, who is the stunt coordinator for Avatar, Larnell Stovall, who choreographed the whole thing has done some epic movies. My stunt double, Kim Do, was the stunt double for me. So we had the most legit of legit stunt guys there. So the action for Mortal Kombat obviously has to be straight up legit, and you’re going to have even more, I want to say, badasses in season two than you did I season one, for sure.
Can you reveal who you’re going to be fighting?
Brian Tee: If I could reveal who I’m going to be fighting…I don’t know if I can reveal that, but I can tell you I will be fighting. (laughter)
Jonathan: Even in the trailer, I can tell one of the guys you’re fighting.
Brian Tee: Yeah, totally. If you guys all check out the trailer, please do. I think it’s one of the sickest trailers I’ve ever seen. You can tell right there who I’m fighting, but we’re all going towards the tournament and everybody’s fighting everybody. So I’m definitely fighting certain characters that people will come to see and know.
You have Cary, who plays Shang Tsung. He’s returning. You must have been excited about that.
Brian Tee: Totally. To have one of the OGs come back and play the original Shang Tsung was awesome, for all of us. It really brought the whole Mortal Kombat world (as far as the web series and the feature films, and all of that) together. I’ve always grown up watching him, and really enjoyed and respected his work. He’s one of those guys who really paved the way, especially for Asian-American actors within the industry. To share the screen with him, to have him on the set is really an honor. But also, it’s really fitting for Mortal Kombat Legacy II
