Mortal Kombat 3 remains an uncertain proposition, and director Simon McQuoid is no longer sounding particularly committed to returning even if Warner Bros. and New Line move ahead with another sequel.
McQuoid, who directed both 2021’s Mortal Kombat and 2026’s Mortal Kombat II, said he is “not sure” whether he would come back for a third film. The hesitation comes at a time when the sequel itself has yet to receive a firm production or release update, despite earlier confirmation that screenwriter Jeremy Slater had started work on another instalment.
That earlier optimism now looks more tentative. Slater revealed at New York Comic Con in 2025 that development on Mortal Kombat 3 had begun, suggesting the studios were pleased with the second film before it even reached cinemas. But development does not guarantee production, especially when box office results fail to deliver a clear commercial case for another expensive sequel.
Mortal Kombat II opened globally with around $63 million before finishing its theatrical run at approximately $129 million worldwide. Its reported production budget was around $80 million, but theatrical profitability is more complicated than simply earning more than the cost of production. Marketing expenses, distribution fees and the share of ticket revenue kept by cinemas can significantly raise the amount a film needs to earn before becoming profitable.
That leaves Mortal Kombat 3 in an awkward position. The franchise still has considerable recognition, and the second film expanded the rebooted universe with characters including Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban, and Kitana, played by Adeline Rudolph. But the five-year gap between the first and second movies may also have weakened momentum around the reboot.
McQuoid appears to be looking beyond the series regardless. He said he has several other projects in development, including one currently being cast that is unrelated to Mortal Kombat and is described as a grounded character study. He has not ruled out returning to the franchise completely, but his comments suggest another Mortal Kombat film is no longer his immediate priority.
That could give Warner Bros. and New Line another decision to make if Mortal Kombat 3 eventually moves forward. Continuing without McQuoid would mean handing the reboot to a new filmmaker after two entries shaped by the same director, potentially opening the door to a tonal or visual reset without abandoning the existing continuity.
For now, the more important question is whether the third film receives a production green light at all. A script being developed keeps the project alive, but Mortal Kombat II’s modest worldwide total means the studios have less incentive to rush into another costly sequel.
The reboot has not been formally finished, but Mortal Kombat 3 now sits in the familiar Hollywood territory between development and commitment — where a project can remain alive for years without ever reaching the cameras.
