Spotlight interview with actor and martial artist Lewis Tan, starring in Mortal Kombat

Shot on location at The Coach and Horses, London

Lewis Tan is a truly modern movie star. The son of famous action director and stunt choreographer Philip Tan is an impressively skilled martial arts professional that performs his own action sequences, as well as an actor that has started in some of TV’s most physically demanding programmes to date. From his portrayal of Lu Xin Lee on Netflix’s Wu Assassins and AMC’s Into The Badlands he is perhaps better known for his roles in Deadpool 2 and Marvel’s Iron Fist. Things go up several notches next January with the release of Mortal Kombat. We took his recent trip to London as a chance to catch up.

What is it like to be part of the Marvel universe?

The Marvel fanbase are a uniquely special and passionate group. The attention and accolades I have received even with the limited amount of screen time was humbling. I had attended events like comic-con before but after playing Zhou Cheng and Shatterstar it was another kind of beast, especially being the first (or one of the first) Asian American super heroes in the MCU. I would like to do more with Marvel on a much bigger scale, their films have become a powerful staple, for the younger generation greatly, of seeing yourself on screen as a hero, hope of some kind, we need that now more than ever.

How much research and preparation do you typically have to do for roles like Iron Fist and Deadpool 2?

All the roles are similar in preparation, that being, I prepare as much as possible in anyway possible. Fortunately there are comics and books I can reference for those characters, I got my hands on them all. Zhou had a lot of deeply interesting character traits that I didn’t get to explore, there is a drawing in the comics of him looking at himself in the mirror and his reflection is an evil dragon, I tried my best to channel that. For Shatterstar, he has a very complex backstory that was hard to understand, again there is so much to explore with him. If we did a spinoff film on him it would be a mix of Gladiator, Mad Max and Blade Runner, no helicopters allowed in the script.

Would you say that you are a fan of comic books?

I love storytelling. All forms. I have read and collected comic books since I was young, as a filmmaker they are most interesting to me because they are basically a really detailed storyboard. You can learn to frame and compose a shot from a good comic book, it can teach you about angles and the way to tell a story clearly through images, then when it comes to film, the pictures move, motion pictures, it’s all connected and another tool to use.

How has your extensive background in martial arts prepared you for a career in the film and TV industry?

Again, martial arts is storytelling. Now I am using my body as the tool, from a good fight scene you should be able to feel my emotions, it should be a wave, a living and evolving being. When I was fighting in kickboxing competitions it taught me to react, to improvise, to be courageous under pressure, to trust my instincts, to learn to take a hit, to be creative, all of these things directly influence and strengthen my power as an actor and filmmaker. That is why it is so important for me to perform my own fight scenes.

As someone inside the industry, do you think that attitudes and representation to Asian stereotypes in film are changing?

There was a time (not long ago) when for years I was banging away at a cement wall with all my might and barely chipping away the paint, now in the last two years we have taken some big progressive steps toward representation and I am proud of each one, Parasite winning the best picture Oscar especially, but there is much much more work to be done. This is not something that gets solved by a few films getting some attention and we don’t want any participation awards, I mean, I can count on one hand the Asian led films that have had a real impact. We need original stories and we need to tell them ourselves, that’s how you get films like Moonlight. Those are the ones that transcend filling the casting diversity quota or adhering to some trendy moment, we have beautiful stories waiting to be told and people will go watch them, it’s coming.

How have you found the reaction from the public to your work? It must feel great to have had projects that you have been involved in so well received.

I am very strategic with the projects I take, you can ask my team, I turn down a lot of shows, and it’s not because they are bad or anything to do with money, in fact some of them have been life changing contracts financially but if it is not right for me, my personal legacy, I feel it in my heart and I know. I want to look back in twenty years on my body of work and be proud, I want it to have an impact on the next generation, I want to honor my fathers history and all the greats before me. That might be why all my work has been well received, When I do take a job, I believe in it fully and I pour out my heart, anything you do with that mentality no matter what you are doing, will never fail.

Can you tell us anything about Mortal Kombat?

Well you can get an idea from my last answer. Haha. Mortal Kombat is a milestone for me. My first lead role in a major studio feature and a full circle moment as it is the same studio (Warner Bros) that gave my father his first major shot in Tim Burton's Batman. It’s also a legendary franchise with a massive fanbase, so all that was a heavy weight on my back that I was prepared to carry or die trying. Everyone on the MK team, behind and in front of the camera truly cares about the material and put their all into it, that was powerful to see and I believe you will see that on the big screen. Everything about it was massive, the sets we built, the practical effects, the insane locations, the fight scenes. It was without a doubt the most demanding and physically exhausting project I have ever done for a variety of reasons (and 11 months on Into the Badlands during the coldest winter in Ireland was no joke) There were nights I was too tired to even eat, had to get back up at 5 am and fight again for 14 hours, try that for a few months, you will know a different level of exhaustion. We are approaching the material from a dark, gritty, violent and uniquely beautiful take. It has been 20 years since the last film, we will breathe life back into it with passion and dedication, wait, we won’t breathe life, we will breathe fire, that’s more accurate.

What are you working on at the moment and in the near future?

I just finished writing my fourth screenplay. It will also be my directorial debut. It is a true story about my father, a story that as an artist, I have no choice but to tell it. That’s all I can say about that film right now, that and Mortal Kombat, and the Wu Assassins brand are the primary focus, then continue to take over the action genre before moving into unique dramas, character driven indies, well written romance and comedy. There are no limits, only limiting thoughts.

What initially drew you to a career as an actor?

I am obsessed with cinema and the way it transports you. It is a spiritual experience, interconnected to all mankind and the universe. We tell stories to live and to love.

And finally, what makes a rakish gent?

Living without fear.

Quick fire questions

Ideal travel destination - Anywhere I have yet to explore

Best store in the world - H-Mart

Gadget of choice - My Camera and my headphones

Go to pair of shoes - Ferragamo drivers

Brand /designer choice - Tom Ford, vintage Chanel

Favourite fragrance - The ocean in the gulf of Thailand at midnight

Essential grooming product - Coconut oil .

Recommended app - Spotify

Icon - Brando, Cary Grant, Mifune and my father.

Mortal Kombat is currently scheduled for a theatre release of January 2021.

Follow Lewis Tan on Instagram.

SPOTLIGHT: Mr Lewis Tan