Hollywood
Mortal Kombat 3 future uncertain as Simon McQuoid hints at exit
Director remains unsure about returning as sequel follows a $129 million global run
MUMBAI: Mortal Kombat 3 may be running out of lives before it even enters the arena. Director Simon McQuoid has cast doubt on his return to the franchise, while the third film in the reboot series remains without a release date or a clear production timeline.
McQuoid, who directed both the 2021 Mortal Kombat reboot and Mortal Kombat 2, said he was unsure about the status of the third film during an interview with The Wrap. Asked whether he would return, the filmmaker said the project was still “going through its life cycle” and that he was “not sure” what would happen next.
The uncertainty comes despite screenwriter Jeremy Slater confirming in 2025 that he had started writing a third film. Slater had said at New York Comic Con that New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. were pleased with the second instalment.
That confidence now faces a tougher reality at the box office.
Mortal Kombat 2 arrived in theatres in May 2026, five years after the first reboot. The sequel introduced characters including Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban, and Kitana, played by Adeline Rudolph, but struggled to turn its franchise appeal into a major theatrical hit.
The film opened to $63 million globally and eventually reached $129 million worldwide, against a reported production budget of $80 million. While the final gross exceeded the production cost, additional expenses mean the theatrical performance was not considered a clear-cut success.
That performance could have a bearing on the fate of Mortal Kombat 3, although no decision has been publicly confirmed.
McQuoid, meanwhile, appears to be looking beyond the fighting-game franchise. He said he has multiple projects in development, including one that is currently being cast and focuses on a real-world story centred on a single character.
“I never want to close doors. I’m just always trying to open doors,” McQuoid said, leaving the possibility of a return open while signalling that his attention is moving elsewhere.
For now, Mortal Kombat 3 remains stuck in development limbo, with no release date and no confirmation that the director who rebooted the franchise will be back for another round.
