Exciting News: Mortal Kombat III in Development!
Even before the highly anticipated release of Mortal Kombat II, New Line is already setting the stage for the next chapter in the franchise with the announcement of Mortal Kombat III. Acclaimed screenwriter Jeremy Slater, who penned and executive produced the sequel, revealed this thrilling news during New York Comic-Con. Sources indicate that Warner Bros. is extremely optimistic about the upcoming sequel, especially after its release date was shifted from October 24, 2025, to May 15, 2026. This confidence was bolstered by the first red-band trailer, which garnered a staggering 107 million views globally within just 24 hours of its release in July, marking a new record for red-band trailers.
While details about the storyline for Mortal Kombat III remain under wraps, it is expected that the original producing team will return. The production team for Mortal Kombat II includes notable figures such as Todd Garner, James Wan, Toby Emmerich, E. Bennett Walsh, and Simon McQuoid, who also directed both films. Aside from Emmerich, all these creatives were instrumental in producing the first film, which debuted in 2021. Executive producers for the sequel include Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Slater, and Lawrence Kasanoff.
The Mortal Kombat films are based on the iconic video game franchise created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, which first launched in 1992 as an arcade game by Midway Games. The films center around high-stakes martial arts tournaments that determine the fate of realms like Earthrealm and Outworld. They feature legendary heroes such as Liu Kang, Raiden, and Sonya Blade battling formidable villains like Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn, and Scorpion.
In the 2021 reboot, Lewis Tan stars as Cole Young, an MMA fighter thrust into a thrilling showdown against Outworld adversaries. The sequel promises to expand on the rich world established in the first film, introducing fan-favorite champions, including Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban. These champions will engage in intense, no-holds-barred battles to thwart the dark reign of Shao Kahn, portrayed by Martyn Ford, which threatens the very fabric of Earthrealm.
The returning cast features Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han/Sub-Zero, Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion, and Max Huang as Kung Lao. New additions to the cast include Tati Gabrielle, Adeline Rudolph, Desmond Chiam, Ana Thu Nguyen, and Damon Herriman.
McQuoid’s 2021 reboot was a major success, earning over $84 million globally despite its simultaneous release in theaters and on HBO Max during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike its predecessor, Mortal Kombat II will have the opportunity to maximize its box office potential with a dedicated theatrical release.
The journey to the sequel’s release has not been without challenges, as production was temporarily halted for a month due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, but it ultimately wrapped up in early 2024 following successful labor negotiations.
Jeremy Slater, the creative mind behind Mortal Kombat II and III, is known for his work on Disney+’s Moon Knight, Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, and the film Death Note. He is represented by UTA, Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment, and McKuin Frankel Whitehead.
Stay tuned for more updates on Mortal Kombat III as we look forward to witnessing the next epic battle unfold!
