We don’t know if audiences will bite with the R-rated comedic martial arts sequel “Mortal Kombat II,” but it was revealed over the weekend at New York Comic-Con that Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema are already developing a script for “Mortal Kombat 3.”
Screenwriter Jeremy Slater made the announcement himself at the film’s panel (via IGN) at the geek event in New York City, as the second film hasn’t even been released, signally the studio’s encouragement that the sequel will attract a general audience next year.
“Our friends at New Line and Warner Bros. are so happy and excited with this movie,” Slater told the crowd at NYCC. “They are so convinced that there is a giant fanbase waiting for it that they already hired me to start writing the next installment of ‘Mortal Kombat.'”
Slater is no stranger to studio genre projects after writing for things such as “Coyote vs. Acme,” “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” Marvel‘s “Moon Knight” series, “The Umbrella Academy,” and tackling the upcoming “Mortal Kombat” sequel.
“Mortal Kombat II” boasts a group of new and returning cast members, such as Karl Urban as the mouthy action star Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Josh Lawson as Kano, Tadanobu Asano as Raiden, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han (taking on Sub-Zero’s undead wraith alter-ego Noob Saibot), Max Huang as Kung Lao. Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, Desmond Chiam as Jerrod, Ana Thu Nguyen as Sindel, and CJ Bloomfield as Baraka.
We won’t know which characters/actors are coming back for that third movie until the dust settles on the second, as there are expected to be multiple character deaths in the blood-soaked action flick based on the iconic arcade video game franchise. In the story of the third arcade game from 1995, Earthrealm becomes part of Outworld, which could potentially speak to what the events of this third movie may explore.
James Wan is back as producer through his production banner Atomic Monster (acquired by Blumhouse), and Simon McQuoid returns to direct “Mortal Kombat II” after helming the first one. There is a current assumption that McQuiud could be recruited for “Mortal Kombat 3” as well, unless they decide to go with another filmmaker.
“Mortal Kombat II” arrives in theaters on March 15, 2026, after moving from its previous release date of October 24, 2025.
BREAKING: A Mortal Kombat III movie is already confirmed with Jeremy Slater writing the script! #NYCC pic.twitter.com/QZaq5mWeip
— IGN (@IGN) October 11, 2025
Christopher Marc is lead writer at The Playlist and the primary engine behind our daily news coverage. Chris is based in Canada and tracks everything from Marvel and Star Wars developments to arthouse acquisitions and festival buzz with equal enthusiasm and an instinct for the story readers actually want to read.
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