Leveling Up Jax: Mehcad Brooks on Conquering Fight Scenes (and Imposter Syndrome) for Mortal Kombat 2
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Mehcad Brooks, the actor playing Jax in the Mortal Kombat movies, initially struggled with fight scenes and imposter syndrome for the first film, even taking his character to therapy. However, with the confirmation of his return for Mortal Kombat 2 and positive fan reception, he's found newfound confidence to take on the sequel's intense battles.
Alright, let's dive into this, shall we? You know how sometimes you pick up a game, and the first few levels just feel... clunky? Like your character hasn't quite found their rhythm, or maybe you haven't unlocked the right perks yet? Well, apparently, even Hollywood actors starring in a *Mortal Kombat* movie can feel that same struggle, but on a whole different level.
Mehcad Brooks, the bloke who brings Major Jackson "Jax" Briggs to life with those iconic bionic arms in the recent *Mortal Kombat* flicks, has been spilling the beans about his journey. And mate, it sounds like he had a proper boss fight with himself before he even stepped into the arena for the first film. According to an interview with IGN South Africa's Wesley Yin-Poole, Brooks revealed he genuinely struggled with the intricate fight choreography for the 2021 movie. Can you imagine? You're playing Jax, the cybernetically-enhanced Special Forces legend from '93's *Mortal Kombat 2* – the guy who rips heads off – and you're thinking, "Do I even belong here?"
Here's where it gets interesting and, frankly, a bit brilliant. Brooks actually took Jax *to therapy*. Yeah, you heard that right. Not himself, but his character. He spent six sessions with his therapist "figuring out why he was who he was." Talk about method acting! Most of us just mash buttons and hope for the best, but Brooks was digging deep into Jax's lore and psyche. He reckons he likes to "overthink a character and then underplay them," but when it came to the physical brawls, he just "didn't know if I belonged in the fighting scenes."
And let's be fair, he was up against absolute legends. Take Joe Taslim, who played Sub-Zero (and is back as Bi-Han in *Mortal Kombat 2*). Taslim's a bona fide martial artist, the kind of bloke who starred in *The Raid* for crying out loud! You know, that film where everyone gets battered in the most beautiful, choreographed ways? So when Brooks recalls a scene where he "messed up once and he [Taslim] punched me in the face," you can almost feel the sting, can't you? Bloody hell! He said he was "5% away for a month" in rehearsals and actually broke down in tears, questioning if he belonged as a fighter. It’s a classic case of imposter syndrome, isn't it? Even when you're literally getting punched by a pro, your brain's still doing mental gymnastics.
But here's the silver lining, the glorious level-up moment. Being asked back for *Mortal Kombat 2* (slated for May 8, 2026, mark your calendars!) seemed to be the validation Brooks needed. He rocked up to the sequel with newfound confidence, saying, "When I got to the second movie, I was like, 'Oh, I got this.'" And fair play to him! The fans loved the first one, which probably gave him a massive XP boost.
Now, with trailers showing Jax squaring off against Jade (Tati Gabrielle) and Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford) in the sequel, it sounds like Brooks has fully embraced his inner combatant. It just goes to show you, sometimes the biggest battles aren't against a frost-wielding ninja, but against your own self-doubt. Good on ya, Mehcad. Can't wait to see Jax go full fatality in *Mortal Kombat 2*.
Tags: Mortal Kombat, Gaming Movies, Mehcad Brooks, Jax, Actor's Journey
Original article: IGN South Africa