Speaking in Jakarta on Tuesday, Taslim said the transformation makes his character more formidable than ever.
"Sub-Zero is known as the ice ninja, but after his death at the hands of Scorpion, Bi-Han is transformed into something else — a warrior consumed by darkness," he explained.
A promotional poster recently fueled fan speculation, showing Bi-Han in black, replacing Sub-Zero's iconic blue.
Taslim confirmed the hints, noting that Noob Saibot’s shadow powers surpass the cryomancy he once wielded.
In the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, Taslim's Sub-Zero killed Hanzo Hasashi, leader of the rival Shirai Ryu clan, only to be slain in return when Hasashi was resurrected as Scorpion.
According to Taslim, Bi-Han was later reanimated in the Netherrealm by a sorcerer, setting the stage for his transformation into Noob Saibot.
"The resurrection changed him completely," Taslim said. "He becomes a ninja of shadow, stronger than he was in the first film."
In the wider Mortal Kombat lore, Bi-Han is depicted as a ruthless assassin and grandmaster of the Lin Kuei clan, with deep animosity toward the Shirai Ryu.
After Bi-Han’s fall, the title of Sub-Zero passed to his younger brother, Kuai Liang. Fan-favorite sorcerer Quan Chi, often tied to the brothers' fates, did not appear in the first film.
Beyond Mortal Kombat, Taslim has appeared in several international productions, including Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Star Trek Beyond (2016), The Night Comes for Us (2018), and The Swordsman (2020).
Mortal Kombat II is set for release in May 2026.
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Translator: Abdu F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Anton Santoso
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