Everything We Know About Mortal Kombat 3

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The action continues in Mortal Kombat II, as Earthrealm faces a new threat from Outworld and its emperor, Shao Kahn. Raiden teams up with returning heroes like Sonya, Liu Kang, Jax, and Cole Young, along with new fighters Jonny Cage and Princess Kitana. While the film delivers plenty of battles, the war isn’t over, and Earthrealm will need even more champions to protect it in the future.

As a huge cinema fan, and especially of action movies, I’m already getting excited because it looks like Mortal Kombat 3 might actually happen – early numbers suggest it could be a big hit! It’s got me thinking, though: when could we realistically expect to see it in theaters, and what direction would the story even take? More than anything, I’m hoping the filmmakers bring in some of the other classic characters we all love from the games – there are so many possibilities!

Mortal Kombat 3 is Coming – Who’s Involved?

Following the success of the recent Mortal Kombat movie, New Line and Warner Bros. have already begun development on a third film. Writer Jeremy Slater, who penned the second movie, has been hired to write the script for Mortal Kombat 3. Studio executives were so pleased with the second film and confident in the franchise’s fanbase that they fast-tracked the third installment and brought Slater back to write it, as he revealed at New York Comic-Con.

With Paul W.S. Anderson likely writing the third Mortal Kombat movie, it’s a good bet that director Simon McQuoid will also be back. He started his directing career with the first two Mortal Kombat films, and it seems natural he’d finish the trilogy. However, if the films continue to receive mixed reviews, the studio might choose a more seasoned director for the third installment.

Most of the original actors are expected to return for Mortal Kombat 3, including Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, and CJ Bloomfield as Baraka. Depending on how Mortal Kombat II ended, we might see even more familiar faces join the cast.

How Mortal Kombat 2 Sets Up Another Sequel

Be warned, major spoilers ahead! In Mortal Kombat II, the story focused on a classic tournament. Earthrealm ultimately won, but in a surprising way: Kitana switched allegiances from Outworld and defeated Shao Kahn, seeking revenge for her family and the realm of Edenia. However, Earthrealm suffered losses before Kitana’s change of heart. Cole Young was killed by Shao Kahn, and Liu Kang seemingly sacrificed himself, merging with a powerful spiritual force during his fight with Kahn. Jax also died trying to take an amulet that would grant Shao Kahn immortality. Adding to Earthrealm’s defeats, Liu Kang was forced to kill his friend and fellow fighter, Kung Lao. In total, Earthrealm lost four skilled warriors.

Raiden is determined to undo the damage from the recent battles. He and his warriors take Quan Chi, Shao Kahn’s sorcerer, back with them as a captive. Their plan is to bring back their fallen friends, mirroring how Quan Chi resurrected fighters like Kano for Shao Kahn. While Liu Kang is attempting a rescue in the Netherrealm, the rest of Earthrealm’s heroes are focused on bringing their comrades back to life, setting the stage for the events of Mortal Kombat 3.

Writer Jeremy Slater shared a photo of the completed script for Mortal Kombat 3, and fans noticed it included the original logo from the video game. This has led many to believe the third movie will be based on the story from Mortal Kombat 3. That game’s plot involves Shao Kahn exploiting a loophole with resurrection to combine Earthrealm and Outworld, taking billions of souls in the process. This act weakens Raiden, and he and the remaining fighters must defeat Shao Kahn’s forces to save Earth and restore those lost souls.

Now that Shao Kahn is definitively gone in the Mortal Kombat films, the story needs a new direction. It’s likely Shang Tsung and the Outworld forces will try to bring Shao Kahn back to life, potentially creating a conflict involving Earthrealm, Outworld, and Netherrealm. The next movie could also explore the history of Netherrealm in more detail, perhaps introducing a major villain like Shinnok and featuring popular characters such as Smoke.

When Mortal Kombat 3 Could Be Released

The five-year gap between Mortal Kombat (2021) and Mortal Kombat II was largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. The strike actually stopped production of MKII just a month after filming began.

New Line approved Mortal Kombat II in 2022, and had a cast prepared to film it by 2023, initially aiming for a release in late 2024 or summer 2025. If Mortal Kombat II performs well at the box office, New Line could quickly begin production on Mortal Kombat 3 as early as spring or summer 2027. This would position the third film for a summer 2028 release.

If the studio delays things or there are problems during filming, the release of MKIII could be pushed back to late 2028 or even 2029. We’re really hoping it comes out sooner than that, though.

I just saw Mortal Kombat II in theaters, and it was awesome! Now I’m already thinking about what I’d love to see in Mortal Kombat 3. Let’s chat about our wishlists over on the ComicBook Forum – I’d love to hear your ideas!

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2026-05-09 02:13