‘Mortal Kombat III’ Officially Greenlit: Director and Cast Discuss Sequel Plans and Delays at NYCC

Mortal Kombat III is officially happening, and fans got the news directly from screenwriter Jeremy Slater during Saturday’s New York Comic Con panel.

Slater revealed that New Line and Warner Bros. have greenlit the next installment and encouraged audiences to support Mortal Kombat II in theaters next summer. “Make sure they know there’s an audience for this movie because we want to keep making them for you guys,” he said.

Slater appeared on stage alongside director Simon McQuoid and stars Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Tati Gabrielle, and Martyn Ford.

The panel covered the sequel’s release delay and what fans can expect from the next chapter. McQuoid explained the shift from an October release to May 16, 2026, saying the delay was “a victim of our own success.” He added, “Every time people have seen this movie, it’s gained momentum. We’ve created a massive summer blockbuster… Yes, we have to wait, but it’s going to feel massive when it comes out.”

The event also featured a behind-the-scenes featurette, giving fans a taste of the film’s fatalities, flawless victories, and large-scale action. McQuoid noted that Mortal Kombat II will focus heavily on Johnny Cage (Urban) and Kitana (Rudolph), aiming to expand the story, emotion, and world-building from the first film.

“We felt that we just scratched the surface. There is so much to Mortal Kombat, to the lore, so much to work with that I thought we could just expand everything onto an even greater scale,” he said.

New behind-the-scenes look at #MortalKombatII – Coming to theaters May 15, 2026. pic.twitter.com/QXsz7L3zkn

— Fandango (@Fandango) October 11, 2025

Slater talked about balancing the large cast and keeping the story tight. “It’s a great problem to have when you have a movie with 20 main characters… You can’t make a six-hour Mortal Kombat movie,” he said.

Both he and McQuoid emphasized that more emotional depth doesn’t mean less action. McQuoid added that the film will feature twice as many fight sequences as the first installment.

Fans will also get the IMAX experience, which McQuoid said will include unique visual details and moments for hardcore fans. Urban shared insight into Johnny Cage’s journey, explaining that the character starts the movie in a low place, “His career is completely in the tank… He’s just a broken man.”

Over the course of the story, Cage transforms into the hero audiences know, giving the character a compelling arc. Slater noted that this approach made it possible to bring emotional growth to a character who is usually fully formed in the games.

Overall, the panel promised a bigger, more ambitious sequel that combines the franchise’s trademark fight sequences with deeper character storytelling and high stakes.

From what’s been shared at NYCC, Mortal Kombat III is shaping up to be an exciting continuation of the series. The focus on character growth alongside massive action scenes could make this one of the most dynamic entries yet. What do you think about the new direction for Mortal Kombat? Are you excited for the next chapter? Share your thoughts in the comments.