Mortal Kombat III Confirmed by Director Amid Underwhelming Box Office Numbers

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Fans of the Mortal Kombat series are very familiar with the command to “Fight!” And Warner Bros. is ready for another challenge, releasing Mortal Kombat II on May 8th, even though it’s going up against strong competition.

The film’s release date was initially changed to avoid competing with other movies, according to Warner Bros. However, it ended up opening against two major releases: The Devil Wears Prada 2, the sequel to the popular 2006 film with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, and Michael, a biopic about the late singer starring Jafaar Jackson.

The new Mortal Kombat II movie is performing well in the US, but sales overseas haven’t been as strong. However, this won’t affect plans to make Mortal Kombat III, even with Karl Urban – who plays Johnny Cage – involved.

That, of course, depends on who you ask.

Mortal Kombat II Director: ‘So Much To Draw From’ for Mortal Kombat III

At New York Comic-Con in 2025, Warner Bros. brought Slater on board to start developing Mortal Kombat III. However, on May 8th, Simon McQuoid, who directed the Mortal Kombat reboot films released in 2021 and planned for 2026, didn’t directly confirm Slater’s announcement, and his response was more cautious.

Director Simon McQuoid told Entertainment Weekly they had a clear idea of how Mortal Kombat II would end. However, he’s hesitant to predict how audiences will react. He prefers to wait until after the film’s release on May 8th before discussing its reception, as he doesn’t want to appear overconfident.

McQuoid ultimately seemed enthusiastic about future possibilities, saying, “There’s a wealth of material to work with, which is both a bit daunting and incredibly inspiring. We’re always thinking about how to include different characters – it’s a never-ending process.”

Where Is Mortal Kombat II Struggling?

To make the next Mortal Kombat game even more successful, the current game needs to appeal to players worldwide, not just in the United States.

According to reports, The Devil Wears Prada 2 earned slightly more than Mortal Kombat II in the U.S., bringing in an estimated $41 million during its second weekend. Mortal Kombat II followed closely behind with $38.7 million, which is similar to the $36.5 million earned by Michael in its third weekend. While these numbers aren’t bad, Mortal Kombat II had a slower start internationally, earning around $23 million over its five-day opening weekend that began on May 6th.

The international opening weekend for Mortal Kombat II – a five-day period across 71 countries – brought in about $15 million less than the film earned in its second weekend in the U.S. This isn’t a great sign, and Warner Bros. needs to improve these numbers if Mortal Kombat III is going to be more profitable.

Despite everything else, it’s clear the public loves Mortal Kombat – with an impressive 89% approval rating – and we’re committed to delivering more of it.

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2026-05-10 21:08