Why ‘Mortal Kombat II’ star Ludi Lin wants to work with Pinoy artists

May 6 ------ 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. “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 to, 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 minimally, 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.

Source: philstar.com