Jessica McNamee & Josh Lawson Interview: Mortal Kombat

The highly anticipated Mortal Kombat arrives on April 23, and fans everywhere are already responding enthusiastically to the teasers and trailers. Many beloved and iconic characters are making their way from the games to the big screen, including Sonya Blade and Kano.

Stars Jessica McNamee and Josh Lawson spoke to Screen Rant about bringing their legendary fighters to life and where they hope to see the franchise go next.

Sonya is from Special Forces in this film and recruited by Jax. What’s motivating her?

Jessica McNamee: Well, initially it’s to come and find Jax. Jax is missing, and they’re partners in crime – well, not in crime; in good, I guess. It’s to find Jax, but even more than that, she knows that Earth is at threat of being taken over by the baddies from Outworld. So, she’s got to go and save the world.

Josh, Kano’s usually a legit bruiser in the Mortal Kombat universe. Typically, his fighting style isn’t very pretty, but what do you want to bring to his physicality in the action scenes?

Josh Lawson: Yeah, I just wanted to make sure that we brought the fact that he was a bit of a dirty fighting, you know what I mean? That he would just use any opportunity to get the upper hand, even if that meant a punch when you weren’t looking, kicking you when you’re down, or throwing dirt in your face – whatever.

I just think he’s a little more unpolished, maybe that’s the word, than some of the other martial artists.

What is it about the action scenes that take this movie to the next level? Because not only are they grounded, but they are beautiful to watch.

Josh Lawson: Yeah, sure. When I speak to the aesthetics of it, unlike some of the others, I know that Simon alongside our cinematographer Germain McMicking really did want to make it look beautiful. The opening sequence, set back in ancient Japan, is probably gonna shock the audiences. I think they’re gonna be like, “Holy shit, this thing is beautiful.” The lenses they used, the coloring, the lighting and stuff.

It’s shot very much like a film more elegant than you would expect from an action martial arts movie. I think that’s just one of the many things that elevates it. But I’m really proud of the aesthetic of the film, for sure. It’s as elegant as beautiful.

Jessica, the props department went all out for your character and the detail in your knives is out of this world. How did the realism and detail of the world help immerse you in your performance?

Jessica McNamee: Exactly like that. It was so real and, honestly, I’ve said from the beginning that it was like stepping onto the set of the video game. Because there was so little CGI, and so much of the sets, the props, the costumes, and all of it was real – you could just transport yourself very easily. It wasn’t a stretch of the imagination to feel like you were that character in that place.

Simon did such a tremendous job of really world building the Mortal Kombat universe cinematically. Where would you like to see the franchise go next?

Josh Lawson: There’s so much to explore with this universe. Not to mention the countless characters we haven’t yet met, with a couple of hints as to where that might go at the end of the film, but even the evolution of the characters you’ve met in this film. There’s more to explore, where death is not the end- we know that much from watching this film.

When they come back, how much stronger they come back? I think that’s exciting to imagine as well. You think you know these characters? Well, look out. Because I think they’re going to be bigger, badder, and more kickass in the next iteration. That’s where I’m excited about the possibilities.

Jessica McNamee: Yeah, for everything he said. I really want to develop all of our characters as well even further. There’s so much to learn about all of us. And as much as there’s all of these unbelievable fights and the blood and the guts and the glory in Mortal Kombat, there’s just crazy backstories. The relationships between all of us are so interesting, and the deeper you dive there’s so much to it. So, I’d love to see more from all of the characters that exist as is.