Yesterday, a trailer for a new Mortal Kombat movie populated the internet. We got an exclusive interview with Johnny Cage actor – Matt Mullins.
CraveOnline: The entire internet was a buzz about this trailer that leaked out today. Can you set the record straight and give us the scoop on what it is for?
Matt Mullins: It has been really cool to see all of the buzz about the short. The truth is, the short is about showing a vision of what the next Mortal Kombat movie can be. I think it is a very well thought out concept that pays homage to the video game and its fans. The attention to detail and the little elements added will set this film apart from all the other films.
CraveOnline: What character do you play?
Matt Mullins: I Play Johnny Cage
CraveOnline: Who is the director behind it?
Matt Mullins: The short was directed by Kevin Tancharoen (Who also directed the FAME remake)
CraveOnline: Who are the other actors involved?
Matt Mullins: Michael Jai White – Jax, Jeri Ryan – Sonya Blade, Ian Anthony Dale – Scorpion, Lateef Crowder – Baraka and
Richard Dorton – Reptile.
CraveOnline: How did you become involved in the project?
Matt Mullins: I had known Kevin for about 5 years, but I never had a chance to work with him. A few months I got a call from Kevin about being involved in a short that he was planning to shoot. He sent me the script and I was blown away. When I sat down to meet with him, and he explained his vision, I was so excited to be involved and could not wait to start.
CraveOnline: Is the developer of the game at all involved?
Matt Mullins: I’m not sure how much Midway is involved. Warner Brother acquired Midway last year, and I know they have seen the short, but I don’t know what they think. Personally I think this is a movie that is right up their alley.
CraveOnline: What are your opinions of past video game movie remakes?
Matt Mullins: I have not enjoyed a lot of the recent video game movies, but I think video game movies are very hard to make and every game that goes to live action has a lot of hurdles to jump. Some of these hurdles are playing to a demographic, which is normally youth so studios won’t do an R rating. This in turn losses a lot of the tone of what the game is about. Capturing elements of the game and building on them is another sticky point. I think that these element often come off a little corny on film. I think you have to take elements of the game and make them make sense. The last hurdle is having a great story line where you have stakes in the character. When you play a game the stakes are really high because it is you getting shot at, kicked, or punched. In the movie you miss some of the connection with the character because it is not you.
CraveOnline: How do you think this version will be better from previously released remakes?
Matt Mullins: I think this new vision has a very fresh look at the franchise and brings it the movie back to the gritty and violent nature that made Mortal Kombat game so popular. Kevin is very passionate about the project (as the rest of us are) and this short is only a taste of things to come.
CraveOnline: Are you a gamer yourself?
Matt Mullins: I am a gamer. I have been loving RPGs (Chrono Trigger favorite game of all time) since I was a kid and I was an avid Mortal Kombat and Street fighter player in my teens. I have been a huge fan of Dead Space and The Uncharted series in past months.
CraveOnline: How else are you involved in the gaming industry?
Matt Mullins: I have beed doing motion capture for the last 10 years. Tao Fang was my first game (created by John Tobisas who created Mortal Kombat) and I have been doing it ever since. I just finished 2 games I can’t mention yet.
I also stared in Kamen Rider Dragon Knight which was on the CW all last year, and I worked with Michael Jai White in last years Blood and Bone.
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Thanks for your time, Matt!
If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, check it out!
