Becoming a fan favorite in the “Star Wars” universe doesn’t necessarily require a lot of lines or screen time. Consider the rise to stardom of Ray Park, who played the character Darth Maul in “The Phantom Menace” back in 1999. Despite not uttering a single word in the role (his lines were dubbed over by Peter Serafinowicz), Park’s physical presence and martial arts skills endeared his version of Darth Maul to fans. Interestingly, his casting in the iconic role might not have happened if not for a decidedly subpar film.
In 1995, the world was treated to “Mortal Kombat,” widely considered one of the better video game-based movies of the time. Its fun, goofy, campy tone was a hit. Unfortunately, its sequel, 1997’s “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation,” was a disaster of poor choices and awful special effects. Ironically, it was this very film that gave Park his big break as a stuntman, which would later lead to his audition for “Star Wars.”
“I did everything on that movie,” Park told Star Wars Insider in 2003, referring to his work on “Annihilation.” “I didn’t know anybody in the movie industry, but after ‘Mortal Kombat 2,’ everything started to happen.”
Impressive work on Mortal Kombat: Annihilation led to a Darth Maul audition
“Mortal Kombat: Annihilation,” for all its flaws, did serve one purpose: it brought Ray Park to the attention of those who mattered. His portrayal of Darth Maul, characterized by the character’s distinctive red and black alien skin, was instrumental in making the climactic lightsaber duel of “The Phantom Menace” a legendary scene. Interestingly, Park wasn’t even a union member when he worked on “Mortal Kombat 2,” and his responsibilities during the film were not quite what one might expect of a soon-to-be-famous stuntman.
“I put boxes together, was the crash-pad man, and advised the actors on their fight scenes,” Park shared with Star Wars Insider about his wide-ranging duties during the production of “Annihilation.” “That movie was my apprenticeship.” Rick McCallum, George Lucas’s producer for the entire prequel trilogy, saw potential in Park when he heard about the young stunt star. “This person had to elevate Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor’s performances,” McCallum told Star Wars Insider in 2003. “Ray’s combination of physical agility and menace, that was it.”
The results were self-evident. Although George Lucas faced considerable criticism for “The Phantom Menace,” Darth Maul was one aspect of the film that moviegoers universally appreciated. The character’s enduring presence in the canon speaks volumes about Park’s performance, especially considering that Maul was supposed to have died at the end of the film.
Ray Park was so good as Maul that he’s continued to come back
While Sam Witwer took over the voice of Darth Maul in the animated “Star Wars” universe, Ray Park was destined to reprise the role. He got his chance, albeit briefly, in 2018’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” The reveal that Maul has been manipulating many of the underworld’s events elicited mixed reactions, mainly due to Maul’s convoluted timeline. Fans who hadn’t seen “The Clone Wars” might not have known he survived his fight in “The Phantom Menace,” and Park’s martial arts skills were underutilized in the film, as Maul only appears as a hologram, again voiced by Witwer.
However, in 2020, over two decades after “The Phantom Menace,” fans were treated to a new lightsaber duel featuring Park as Maul. For the climactic Siege of Mandalore arc in “The Clone Wars” season 7, showrunner Dave Filoni envisioned a sprawling duel between Maul and Ahsoka Tano. The team brought in Park and stunt performer Lauren Mary Kim to do full motion capture for the epic battle. The result is arguably the best lightsaber duel in any of the “Star Wars” animated shows, with Park’s distinctive style shining through.
So, the next time you marvel at one of Park’s exceptional performances as Maul, spare a thought for “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.” Just don’t actually watch it.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
