Joe Taslim talks ego taming and playing Sub-zero

The film industry has been constantly evolving. However, the most significant change in recent years would be the presence of a diverse mesh of characters, all represented by a vast network of individuals with varying ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. That being said, such worldly vision is only possible if driven by the artistic ideas behind individual participants. And one such individual is actor Joe Taslim.

An Indonesian actor known for his roles in action films such as Gareth Evans’ slugfest The Raid or Timo Tjahjanto’s action-thriller The Night Comes for Us, Joe’s core interest is actually in martial arts. Growing up, Joe studied Taekwondo, Wushu and eventually landed on Judo, where he represented the national team from 1997 to 2009. Since retiring from the sport, he got his modeling career off the ground and was frequently seen in advertisements in his home country, Indonesia. Prior to his debut, the Palembang-born actor has proved that he has more to offer aside from his athletic talent, landing him roles in international productions, such as Fast & Furious 6, Star Trek Beyond, and Warrior. Coming up next, Joe will be playing the primary video game character of the decade: Sub-Zero, in Mortal Kombat.

Growing up, there’s always a discussion about the right sport to introduce to a young child. How did martial art come into your life, and who introduced you to your first class?

When I was ten years old, my dad introduced me to martial arts for the first time—I kept changing between Taekwondo, Wushu, and then to Judo. I joined the Indonesia Judo National Team when I was 16. I remember my coach said I was too skinny for a Judoka. But my dad told me, “Nothing is impossible. You are skinny, but you have more flexibility. They are bulky and stiff.” That’s actually an advantage if you find the right techniques that fit your posture. So yeah, I think for training in martial arts, the only thing that matters is that you can train yourself to the max, and spend more time on the Tatami than on your opponent.

We read that you are a huge fan of Mortal Kombat ever since its first launch in 1992. Do you remember your first impression of the game? What made you fall in love with it as a child? 

Back then, I remember Mortal Kombat was an exceptionally violent game, but it was so fun, so I was totally geeking out over it along with the other kids. Back then, it was hot stuff. Really, it was quite the breakthrough. Everyone just talked about it. The “Fatality, Friendship, and Babality” I think are the coolest parts of the game.

Simon McQuoid’s decision to pursue a cast that authentically represents the characters of Mortal Kombat was inspiring. It gives hope and courage to the minorities and ethnicities out there—to believe that justice exists. On your part, did you approach your character differently to ensure that justice is given to the game?

Yes, I personally grew up playing Mortal Kombat. Sub-Zero is my favorite character. I’m really grateful, and I really respect Simon for being real and authentic. From what I know, Bi-Han’s mother is apparently Asian-American, and his dad is Edenian, which is from a different world. From that, I presume his mother gave Bi-Han his Chinese name, with hopes that he will always remember his identity as an earth-realmer and as a Chinese descendent. So playing the Sub-Zero character, to me, is very important in representing race, since I am a Chinese descendent myself. To be truthful, I researched a lot about Bi-Han, Lin Kuei and Cryomancer, and I have to give justice to the character’s background for the fans.