Mehcad Brooks: struggle and growth in Mortal Kombat 2

Actor Mehcad Brooks has recently shared his experiences playing Jax in the Mortal Kombat film series. Brooks, who made his debut as Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs in the first film, has had an interesting journey while preparing for the upcoming sequel, Mortal Kombat 2.

Jax, an iconic character

Major Jackson 'Jax' Briggs is one of the best-known characters in the Mortal Kombat universe, introduced in 1993's Mortal Kombat 2. Jax is a cybernetically enhanced Special Forces officer, known for his signature metal bionic arms. He gets those arms as a result of the events in the first film, released in 2021.

Brooks originally struggled with performing the fight scenes in the first film, something he has now managed to overcome. He said he addressed those challenges with the help of therapy. "I had about six therapy sessions to understand who he was," Brooks said. This offers insight into the depth with which he approaches the role, even though he was initially unsure of his place in the action scenes.

Behind the scenes

During production on the first Mortal Kombat film, Brooks faced a number of challenges. One of his most memorable experiences was a fight scene against Joe Taslim, who plays Sub-Zero. Taslim's martial arts expertise made the scene an even bigger challenge for Brooks. During a rehearsal, Brooks even accidentally got hit in the face by Taslim, which reinforced his doubts about his role as a fighter.

Brooks recalled how frustrating it was to struggle with the complex fight choreography. "I didn't feel good enough for a month and even broke down crying in my hotel room," he said. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to perform at the level the scene required.

More confidence in Mortal Kombat 2

With the sequel announced, Brooks felt renewed confidence. He was excited to return as Jax and said during a recent press conference that he now approaches the fight scenes with more self-assurance. "By the second film I thought: 'Oh, I can do this!' It was really affirming, because we got such a great response from fans for the first film."

In the Mortal Kombat 2 trailers, Jax can be seen taking on Jade, played by Tati Gabrielle, and Shao Kahn, played by Martyn Ford, suggesting Brooks will once again have plenty of skills to show off.

Brooks’ personal story of growth and perseverance offers an intriguing look at the challenges actors face in the action-thriller genre. Mortal Kombat 2 promises exciting new developments for both him and fans of the franchise.