The recent release of Mortal Kombat II has ignited widespread praise, with audiences highlighting the intense clash between Liu Kang and Kung Lao as a cinematic standout. Max Huang delivers a fierce performance as the undead Revenant, engaging in a sequence against Ludi Lin’s Liu Kang that seamlessly blends high-octane stuntwork with cutting-edge VFX.

The sheer impact of this battle has left fans hungry for more lore regarding the characters' martial arts origins. This momentum has fueled growing calls for a Kung Lao and Liu Kang Shaolin Monks spinoff movie to explore the duo’s shared history before their rivalry took center stage.

The Preparation Behind the Fight

The intensity displayed on screen was no accident; it was the result of months of grueling physical preparation. Huang spent eight months preparing for his return as a villain, focusing heavily on grounding Kung Lao in his video game origins. To capture the true essence of the character, the actor trained alongside a Shaolin monk to emphasize the philosophical connection between martial arts and weaponry.

To ensure the sequence felt authentic, the production utilized several meticulous methods:

  • Dedicated Prep: Eight months of intensive training focused on his villainous transformation.
  • Shaolin Influence: Training with a real monk to ground the character’s combat style.
  • Technical Precision: Using an iPhone to meticulously match framing and capture every movement.
  • Stunt Execution: A grueling week of filming where Huang performed nearly all his own stunts.

Huang described the physical toll as absolutely brutal. By the sixth day of filming, exhaustion became a major obstacle. “I was lying on the floor and was meant to get up, but just couldn’t,” he recalled. “I was like, okay, I just need one minute.”

Martial Arts Philosophy and Storytelling

Huang draws a sharp contrast between his time on Hollywood sets and his decade-long tenure with Jackie Chan’s stunt team. He noted that his experiences in China often involved 16-18 hour days of nonstop work, making the transition to Hollywood feel almost like a vacation.

When handling Kung Lao’s iconic hat, Huang applied traditional principles to ensure the prop felt like a natural extension of the character rather than a mere accessory. “The philosophy in Chinese martial arts is always to enhance the weapon as part of your body,” he shared. “I try to do the same with the hat... make the hat become part of Kung Lao instead of being separate.”

He also pushes back against the notion that fight scenes are just choreographed routines. Instead, Huang views authentic combat as a reactive, spontaneous process similar to the UFC. For him, movement is the ultimate tool for narrative: “Instead of just moving in a fancy way, this fight is telling a story.”

The Potential for a Kung Lao and Liu Kang Shaolin Monks Spinoff Movie

Before production began, Huang studied Mortal Kombat 11 to identify Kung Lao’s five most iconic movements. This dedication resulted in what he describes as “the fight of my life,” even though the scene concludes with a devastating moment where Liu Kang uses Kung Lao’s own hat to tear the Revenant in half.

While Liu Kang vows to rescue his former ally from the afterlife, fans are left questioning the character's trajectory. Given that Kung Lao has met his end in nearly every previous film adaptation, Huang is hoping for a reprieve. “Well, first of all, I hope that he doesn't suffer another death! Give him a break, let him live for a second,” he said.

With a third installment already in development, the franchise has massive potential for expansion. If the studio decides to delve into their shared heritage through a Kung Lao and Liu Kang Shaolin Monks spinoff movie, it could redefine the series' depth. As Huang noted, “There's so many possibilities where this whole franchise can go.”