Q&A Session with the Cast of Mortal Kombat: Annihilation

Recorded Monday, December 4, 2017 at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California! For the 20-year anniversary of MK: Annihilation, Kory Davis (moviedude18) got some of the actors and actresses out to rewatch the movie and do a Q&A session afterward! Included in this session are:
- Robin Shou (Liu Kang in MK and MKA)
- Sandra Hess (Sonya Blade in MKA)
- Musetta Vander (Sindel in MKA)
- Keith Cooke (Sub-Zero in MKA, Reptile in MK)
The actors and actresses were very generous and answered lots of questions!
Huge thanks to longtime MKO buddy Baraka_MK (5 Minute Movie Guy) for filming this for me!
And of course, huge thanks to Kory Davis for putting the entire event together. Follow him on social media:
korysdavis
kzbin.info
moviedude18

[@Jay_SUBZ3R0]

Gotta have respect for these actors answering these questions and acknowledging the kind of movie that they played a part in. I respect that! As a diehard Mortal Kombat fan, Annihilation is a huge guilty pleasure for me!

[@vardellsfolly5200]

I still find Musetta Vander irresistible! Now, more than ever!

[@ddrlear]

Robin Shou is so underrated. Love this guy!

[@tristarea08]

Liu Kang doesn't age..He is almost 60

[@thaistomp]

He has that Mortal Kombat blood that's why. Lol

[@marcelcostache2504]

He is the champion of Mortal Kombat and will not age until the next turnament so are the laws of the Elder Gods!.

[@GenyaArikado]

He is 6 years younger than Jackie Chan

[@reloadpsi]

He's a level 17 monk, so while he'll live a normal lifespan his body won't physically age

[@cezarvanderlei1985]

prob is Liu morph from shang tsung

[@nocap4557]

Robin Shou is Liu Kang

[@Luqas808]

I really feel sad watching this reunion, but glad it happened. Wish more of the cast was there and the director. It's amazing that they have maintained friendships all these years, I definitely have no friends from 20 years ago

[@tabmok99]

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

[@Shaki123]

The director of this movie deserves no attention.

[@DeadPixel1105]

I have one single friend from childhood. Still the best of buds, even in our mid 30s. The rest of my childhood and teen friends, I could care less about honestly.

[@vipset87]

@@tabmok99 why am i not surprised to see you here hahah

[@ayushgaurincredible]

Same with me bro

[@nemospodcast6766]

Robin and keith also worked on the movie Beverly Hills ninja. Keith was also reptile in the first movie

[@heyzeushoards1405]

Yeah. Gobei. That movie was so good.

[@dubdeuce1517]

LMAO. Was Sub Zero in that one? I think I vaguely remember. That's my favorite Chris Farley movie hands down.

[@tiiito1988]

Producer Larry Kasanoff finally spoke about this movie: "There were so many things that had been cut from the film and so many things that had been shot in a different way than they were written. Honestly, the final movie that's out there is not the final movie. There was supposed to be an entire second pass of visual effects, post-production, editing. But New Line said 'You know what? It's testing so well, it doesn't fucking matter. It still gonna be a hit. And by the way, it was."

[@JarrettMazza]

Laughable. Annihilation turned only a marginal profit that by today's standards would be a mere shrug. Who cares what the movie COULD HAVE been? It wasn't. Release the edited cut then. If not, he shouldn't be talking because the movie was garbage and ruined any chances of another instalment.

[@pupthelovemonkey]

How do you reconcile that they spent double the budget than the first movie if they were supposed to enhance the effects with a second pass? Do you honestly buy that considering how much they spent and how it turned out?

[@dynamo4543]

@@JarrettMazza sadly the stuff they cut out of the film probably would have made the film much better,because what they released sucked,kind of wish they would released that cut footage but i doubt it will ever happen

[@jman101]

Tito Schmidt - AOR Melodic Rock where can i find the interview

[@tiiito1988]

@@jman101 in the book Lights, Camera, Game Over by Luke Owen.

[@Chavdar25]

I would die to be there .Those gut are part of my history, my heroes , when you was this in the world was everything . thank you 🙏

[@menoknow4622]

The first one was amazing but the second one... Well...

[@omegaweapon116]

At least it had a good soundtrack

[@gregmoldovan5921]

@@omegaweapon116 And good fight scenes! The story and acting, bleh. But I love the fights even more than the first!

[@RomeroProd]

Kieth was the only original ninja that plays reptile 🦎 in pt one ☝🏼

[@86blackberrywhite]

I guess Talisa Soto, James Remar, and Brian Thompson weren't available.

[@koulor315]

86blackberrywhite yo James remar is in the DC superhero show Black Lightning, he’s probably busy filming the show

[@aamirmohammed6761]

I can't believe Robin Shou mentioned Jackie Chan that must been somewhat an honor.

[@koulor315]

Sindel still look good

[@izabelamaria1400]

I really enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing. Big MK fan ❤💋

[@kiduprock04]

Thanks a lot for posting this footage. Such a dope throwback to my pre-teen years! 💯

[@tiiito1988]

Paul W.S Anderson thoughts on MKA: "I personally think the second Mortal Kombat movie didn't follow up well on the first one. Maybe partly that's my fault and maybe I should have gone on to direct the second film, but I would have done things differently on the second film. And it made think differently about how you create a franchise, and one of the thing's strongs franchises have is a strong creative team behind them that's stayed the same. I felt with Mortal Kombat I started a franchise and then the sequel ended the franchise. With Resident Evil I really wanted to take care of it and make it a franchise that succeeds and flourishes."

[@RomeroProd]

And he did it with RE because those movies are amazing

[@aryansweetsongs]

Still like the actors alot. Great effort.

[@felipeferreira89]

I really like Sandra Hess as Sonya. Her casting was just perfect. I wish someone had asked about the third part, for what I can remember and googling it... Mortal Kombat Devastation was supposed to be released in 2002/2003 featuring Robin, Sandra and Linden back as Johnny Cage. In Annihilation, allegedly, there was also an alternative endind where Johnny Cage gets revived, I don't know whether it's true or not.

[@JustErik92]

Supposedly, Devastation was going to start where Rayden revives Johnny Cage to join the forces of light. But, like you said they never made the movie. The last time I heard about the movie was in 2010 & 2011. It was going back and forth that they were having problems making the movie which was why it went years that they were going to start directing or continued directing but eventually they stopped.

[@dansolo6417]

"Did you see the first movie?" "he was in it"

[@Sleepiscarryingme]

Very honest, and fun interview! Robin is such a treasure!

[@user-gl4qw6ow4b]

They are all looking good.. great movie and superb techno soundtrack..mk forever!

[@Guhndoi]

Keith was also in Beverly Hills Ninja.

[@journeyman66]

Sandra and Musetta are looking really hot

[@tabmok99]

I'm a lucky guy then! twitter.com/tabmok99/status/937970918831222785

[@tomkrueger6556]

@@tabmok99 you son of a gun!!!

[@bats70]

I loved these cast members from Annihilation I really wish I could meet them!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@MegaAmir46]

Good they still look great ! Glad to see em active....Liu Kang 🔥🔥

[@mikelw2019]

It’s funny that Robin Shou mention Jackie Chan!!! 😂😂

[@Ronnie06spartan]

I love Mortal Kombat Annihilation, I don't care what people say. I saw it in theaters way back when it was released. Even if it's not perfect or amazing, I still enjoy it as a guilty pleasure. As much as the first movie is great, I always liked that Annihilation had way more characters, including all my favorite MK2 and UMK3 characters that were not in the first movie. The movie came out around the time I was obsessed with MK Trilogy, so it was great for me. The movie definitely has it's issues (and cheesy feel), but I love it. There are way worse video game movie adaptations out there. Thanks for this 20 year reunion interview with the cast

[@tabmok99]

Amazing how many people are coming out in support of this movie now! Glad you enjoy it!

[@OneUponADime]

Saw it in theatres on my b-day that year, followed by a $70 steak dinner (I didn't pay so that's a good thing). I'll always associate it with happy memories.

[@miesvaillanykyisyytta3252]

The way I see it is that after the first movie the milk had been spilled, the tooth paste had exited the tube...there was no going back to the novelty. Even the first movie mixed characters from multiple games. What were they supposed to do with the second? I think they did well considering what they had to work with. Everyone was on their tip toes for the first movie and lapping it all up; they did not complain about random black characters that were not Jax, they did not complain about all the bending of the original plot or Kitana and Kahn being there despite not existing in the first game. Also the second movie is less violent and you can show it to younger kids than the first one.

[@KinkESizemore]

I think people are way too harsh on it. Ed Boon says it’s the worst moment in the franchise, to me it represents the last time Mortal Kombat was truly part of the lexicon for almost 25 years. And if it is the worst moment in MK history, that says alot about the quality of the franchise.

[@Shaki123]

@@tabmok99 dude. It sucks. Massive insult to the first movie.

[@Spit1990]

Explains why that Reptile fight was so damn hungry.

[@an-ni4us]

best battle of mk

[@courageunitycompassi]

They are brave to face the public.

[@tabmok99]

I thought the same thing

[@ashleygggytttttu5888]

i loved this film as a kid espically the jade scenes oh yes !!

[@p.haugen7565]

I love how they all seem really honest when he asks if they liked it hahahahaha

[@Pingaheimer]

Good looking women damn.

[@Minchken]

There needs to be a mk movie pack 2 for mk11 Get Robin for Liu and Keith as sub zero.

[@tabmok99]

Chris Casamassa said he'd be agreeable to be Scorpion, too!

[@Minchken]

@@tabmok99 Here's hoping for MK1 skin packs

[@Brylant1980]

LOVE IT! Thank You, MK1 and 2 was the best movies of my childhood :) I was 15 when the first movie came out :) I will watch now Mk1 and 2, the date is 21.09.2019 :) We NEED MORTAL KOMBAT rebut with all the old actors as mentors HOW COOL IT WOULD BE???!!!

[@an-ni4us]

best movie mk1, best serial mk 1998, best game mk2 (sega original)

[@thundersquid5715]

😂Robin has one funny personality

[@equinoxfan82]

Justin, thank you so much for filming this and uploading it! I met you at Kombat Kon 2017 and we talked for quite a bit (I was the one who talked to you about the MKMSZ VHS transfer). I was also the one who was the winner of your Johnny Cage T-Shirt Contest. Thanks again! - Derek

[@tabmok99]

Hi Derek, I remember you! Yes, I enjoyed meeting you at Kombat-Kon and I was very lucky that I was able to come to this event as well!

[@equinoxfan82]

Yes, same here. You are very lucky indeed. I assure you that I haven’t forgotten about the MKMZS VHS capture that I promised you I would do through S-Video. I will share it with you once I’m done (even if I have to mail the files to you on a Blu-ray recordable (BDR), if you want that is. ). I will get it to you and the quality will be superb. It’s buried in a plastic bin at the moment, but once I dig it out and my recording equipment, I will get to work on capturing it. Very cool that you remembered me! Stay cool, - Derek

[@Elfangel85]

It's funny how one of the mics didn't work, byt they didn't fix it. Thank you for sharing this entertaining video!

[@smithsfan425]

The host reminds me of Morty from Rick and Morty

[@jwh3rooo746]

smithsfan425 lol 😂

[@DeadPixel1105]

It would have been great if this movie viewing was done in a Mystery Science Theater 3000 way - with the stars and the fans watching and tearing the movie to shreds together. That would have been fun as hell for everyone involved, I think.

[@amandaangelisse5612]

Did they ever say why Bridget Wilson and Linden didn’t reprise their role? Sonya & Johnny Cage?

[@tabmok99]

Pretty sure Linden passed on the script because his character died, but I never heard anything about why Bridgette didn't come back

[@alexh4319]

@@tabmok99 Linden didn’t pass on the script because his character died. He passed on the film because of money disagreements with the stupid which was pretty much the same reason most of the rest of the cast from the first film didn’t come back.

[@IVdarealonly]

That sequel was extremely difficult to watch...all I could do as a kid especially after seeing the first movie was smdh!

[@kailee87]

yes MK 95 milion times better, but with the new shitty 2021 version, Annihilation in safe place now.

[@cuzcohusky3533]

I want to see an interview of them for the game mk11 release

[@alejandror765]

How did I not know.. And I live in cali 😢

[@damocles5047]

Sandra was crazy hot back in 99

[@tsdg135]

This is REALLY good quality... when the hell was this ??!

[@tabmok99]

Not that long ago - December 2017!

[@ThreeSwordXenas]

That's crazy how jj perry played scorpion in the movie and then went to play sub zero in conquest lol he played two ninjas just as Keith did

[@KinkESizemore]

“Very few people had the opportunity to return.” I’m pretty sure they did but walked away from the sequel.

[@jamespaz4333]

Keith Cooke was like: "You must go, there will be others"

[@gloriouswaifu895]

It would be so awesome to see the whole cast play mk9 and mkx

[@charlesleeiii]

Twitter works. I guess that makes me glad I joined.

[@gmcmullins3251]

This is cool.

[@reloadpsi]

Tony Jaa was one of the meteor ninjas?! Holy crap, I just marked out so hard!

[@iTzShakenJoE]

always a good movie. love ittt

[@notthesameman]

2 great films gotta watch them now and then, great cast of people

[@eddieyyy3]

No Talisa Soto? 😭 omg seriously where is everyone? And why would they turn down a reunion appearance 😞

[@dman3438]

eddieyyy3 ego? or got busy, or did not care to be there, or typecast I guess. I agree Brian and Talisa a d Jade, Rayden too. Jaxx might have been too loud and excited around the girls.

[@astrotrain3332]

I feel bad for Robin. The fact is, no one gave a shit about Liu Kang. He is no ones favorite character..... IN THE GAMES. Movie Liu Kang was a fucking bad ass. He took the mantle of the hero, main character and champion the same way Ryu did for Street Fighter. If the same effort had been put into MK movie sequels as the first film, maybe they'd have made many more amazing movies. Maybe Robin Shou would be a household name by now. He definitely deserved it.

[@catharticpsychichealer2091]

Mortal Kombat was a great movie. The fight scenes were amazing and they did great.

[@ClandestineSnowman]

is the camera man building a desk back there? holy shit, sit still.

[@ABC-de5in]

I was at the event. He was sitting in a rocking chair

[@berkkarsi]

Don't you love it when you're listening to something and some kid starts whispering in the background?

[@ryoku79]

Whoever did the setup is a moron

[@dman3438]

This movie is now underated. It was so different from the first and had cheesy cgi, but it has cool music, good acting, and was more true to the video games. I would have ditched the cgi animalities. Brian Thompson was entertaining as Shao Khan. The sets were amazing, locations, and lighting so clearly it had a budget. I would have casted henry rollins to play unmasked sub-zero back then, but Kieth worked well and could play masked sub-zero. Robin has not aged, nor the others there. They can easily do an MK 3. I think Kieth was in beverly hills ninja too. Great questions asked. This movie could have been way longer with longer fights.

[@BooneLuleyo]

Good acting? Hell to the no

[@larrypoppins6273]

This reunion was great. The movie it's for is.. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

[@tabmok99]

Great summary - thank you

[@karljohnmagbanua7264]

Where's Talisa Soto , Dana Hee .

[@KidDynamite6]

Glad to see theyre doing well…but i still want an apology for the slap in the face we recieved that is MK:annihilation

[@aamirmohammed6761]

Where the hell was Robin Shou when they were casting Mulan manage pull all vetern Martial Artists actors and Actress Jet li Jason Scott Lee and Donnie Yen as Commander. No Robin

[@tabmok99]

I would love to see Robin be in that, even as a cameo.

[@ac1232]

Bobby hill?

[@jmoney4708]

Lmao crack kills nerdy guy with the converse

[@brunosoaresdasilvasoare998]

Eu amo a atriz da sindel♥️pra mim ela é a sindel da vida real❤

[@Ashleymaul]

The winner of Mortal Kombat does not age so he cap participate in the next tournament as the champion, everyone knows that.

[@tabmok99]

So we kind of got hints that the MK champion doesn't age until the next tournament - but never in the movies! The first time we learned that info was in MK Defenders of the Realm, then in MK4 (in Liu Kang's bio), then in MK: Conquest. Recently, John Tobias confirmed that was always his intention (even though it wasn't made 100% explicit in the games). Here's a Tweet where he goes into it more: twitter.com/therealsaibot/status/1293023140109402112?s=19

[@abdulhouser]

Where was Lynn Red Williams?

[@vegetasolo1221]

He doesn't like the movie

[@alijahlewis3552]

Who is he ?

[@distinguishedallureproduct879]

@@alijahlewis3552 I believe Jax, if Redd is Jax it's odd he doesn't like the movie because he starred in a God awful MK Web series promoting the game and 3rd film that PK Source discussed on the latest video

[@TheProphegy]

I love Robin, but him saying the reason Bridgette didn’t come back to play Sonya was because they wanted someone who could kick more ass, is far fetched. I just think Bridgette didn’t want to come back or had schedule conflict. Robin was being a gentleman for Sandra.

[@JorgeMunoz-gn5do]

Sandra hess nailed the sonya Blade role. Sandra was the total package and bought more to the table then Bridgette did.

[@jeffcase7827]

The host sounds a lot like Sean Astin. kinda looks similar too, hmm

[@ECW5320]

I definitely feel like the 2nd movie had too many characters.

[@MysticTheStrider]

Was this really just this year? If not, what year was this?

[@tabmok99]

Yep! Recorded December 4, 2017! I know the actors all still look incredibly young, but it's true!

[@MysticTheStrider]

Wow, awesome :D By the way, I'm hioping for a Mortla Kombat reboot series already and wondering if there is any news on that? If they can cast Liu Kang, it would be Shin Koyamada, even though he's Japanese, I know the original cast for liu Kang in the video-games was Korean, so race doesn't really matter. I haven't watched this entire thing yet but I heard the James Wan is helping produce the film. And if they can have the cast I would like to see Thomas Jane playing Raiden because he really does look like Christopher Lambert. Natassha Malthe as Sindel, Manu Bennett or Jason Statham as Kano, Kathryn Winnick as Sonya Blade. What did they say about the next Mortal Kombat film or possible tv series? WB are being douchebag... it's almost 2020 and still no news on a new MK film or tv series.

[@tabmok99]

Nothing concrete on an MK3 movie. Honestly I don't think WB is 100% to blame as they've had problems getting this off the ground since the Threshold and New Line Cinema days. The fact that we got a webseries (MK Legacy) out of it was pretty cool. I wish they'd continue that into a season 3!

[@abdulhouser]

Shadowfury Bring in Jax and Kai, too!

[@johnkennedy91]

The mortal kombat annihilation movie reminds me of a cheap power rangers episode, lmao

[@VideoGameStupidLC]

Host seemed pretty dodgy with that last audience question...

[@camachop100]

I watched the move when I was a teenger but, who are those women?

[@camachop100]

Where is Kitana?

[@fting8232]

Mortal kombat video game is very popular all year

[@descendant0fdragons]

It is easy to understand why this was a flop if you saw MK with so many great aspects of the game presented in a good action movie way, while the sequel presents it in a watered -down less energetic and forced to succeed way. In other words Director and higher up mistakes, can't blame the actors.

[@user-mh5fs8nf9l]

Кит Кук , Робин 2 легенды

[@akbarsarosa2205]

Where is Christopher Lambert as raiden..asby as Johnny cage and and Chris cassamasa as scorpion

[@dman3438]

Akbar Sarosa this is mkii

[@nikolaydimov]

They look somehow awkward because they know the movie was a flop.

[@sonyx4500]

Nikolay Dimov Movie Budget was 30 Million. And it grossed 50 Million worldwide. I wouldn't call it a flop. But it was a bad movie.

[@gabrielanthony1129]

LMAO!!! Right? The only that doesn't look awkward is Robin Shou.

[@RIDDICK0911]

@@sonyx4500 a US produced movie has to gross twice its budget in America in order to start making profit, and it gets no more than 30% of overseas gross. They've lost around 20 Million with this movie.

[@extraterrestrealthecoppere4704]

Only fans should be allowed 2 make certain types of movies. Not someone whose lil brother or son is into it 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@nerdgamer5673]

hes so nervous

[@tomasgaspar8065]

OMG. When i was young i thought this movie was the shit. Now that i am older i cant believe how shitty it is.

[@FictagiousDaveSavage]

MKA is totally underrated. Yes something things were off, actor changes and cut fights. But to say how it was the worst game-to-movie adaptation is way WAY off. I guess those that say that have never watched; House Of The Dead, Far Cry, King Of Fighters, all of which came after MKA and MKA is way WAY better than those adaptations combined. MKA is a guilty pleasure movie for me. I enjoy it. I understand the limits it has and why things were changed and why things were not as developed as they should have been. But it's nowhere near as bad as people still make it out to be.

[@tabmok99]

It was rushed. Special effects weren't really finished and they tried to cram too much in there. But like you said, there's way worse. Of the ones you mentioned, I've seen House of the Dead and that has got to be the worst film videogame movie - if not the worst movie - ever!

[@FictagiousDaveSavage]

Just wait till you see King Of Fighters... You want to talk about shitting on an established storyline, characters and their backgrounds, KOF is possibly worse than Mario Bros. PS, sent a message to Kory on his facebook ;)

[@Shaki123]

This movie does everything wrong that MK1 did right.

[@Shaki123]

Also, editing during fight scenes is so terrible I will never watch it again. Ever. Too bad they don't give Tony Jaa credit for doubling a lot for Robin Shou.

[@keeranimal8]

I was in the Army as the first movie came out...deployed when MKA came out...as such, it still sticks with me as being one of the best, most nostalgic movies for me to date. Love this movie...

[@anthonytinaj7131]

im surprised that they showed up, if i was in that movie, i would never show my face again

[@ryoku79]

The mic crunching is super annoying plus people whispering. Be quiet Damn

[@anirudhbharadwaj1342]

Nobody asked the most important question.....why was the movie so bad

[@viccypress6292]

MKA was/is still frickn Awesomeness!!! Anyone disagreeing will catch a daamn Spine Rip! 🤘😎

[@Mechafresh82]

Sindel's gum chewing is annoying.

[@hostilehostile5073]

The interviewer is terrible. Actors look awkward cause of him. He didn't do proper job, didn't prepare. They will never more participate in event like this cause of him. He should've summon more viewers in theater, fans that will cheer actors up and form a good friendly atmosphere, but he didn't cause he is stupid and he doesn't respect actors and he doesn't care.

[@jasonstefani8276]

He's worse than you think. To be honest, neither of us should really be surprised that he is doing a sub-par job hosting the event. He's not some Hollywood big shot. In fact, he's actually a criminal.

[@unicornevil6913]

Why is Robin Shou terrified of sounding gay?

[@TheProphegy]

??????

[@ajjohnson3416]

Liu kang is ageing too much

[@tabmok99]

Ironically, as the champion of Mortal Kombat, he's not supposed to age at all!

[@ajjohnson3416]

tabmok99 for real

[@miesvaillanykyisyytta3252]

No idea what you're trying to say but i think the entire cast (in both movies) has aged very gracefully.

[@tristarea08]

Aj Johnson wtf are you talking about? He is damn near 60, and looks the exact same

[@jonathanbonilla5654]

He has become San tsung