Mortal Kombat movie director Simon McQuoid has indicated uncertainty regarding his return for a potential third film in the franchise, as the project itself remains in limbo. McQuoid, who helmed both the 2021 reboot and its recent sequel, stated in an interview with The Wrap that he is unsure about his future involvement.
Work on Mortal Kombat 3 has faced delays. Screenwriter Jeremy Slater had confirmed in 2025 that he had begun writing the script, suggesting that New Line and Warner Bros. were pleased with the second film. However, the release of Mortal Kombat 2 in May 2026 came a year after Slater’s initial announcement, highlighting a staggered production timeline.
The recent sequel, Mortal Kombat 2, struggled to gain traction with audiences. Despite pre-release projections, the film garnered only $63 million globally during its opening weekend. Its final box office total reached $129 million, which, while exceeding its reported $80 million budget, is not considered a definitive success when factoring in additional costs.
While the status of Mortal Kombat 3 is unresolved, McQuoid has suggested that he may not direct even if the film moves forward. Although he has not entirely closed the door on returning to the Mortal Kombat universe, he is actively developing other projects. "I feel like there are other stories that I want to tell that aren’t necessarily in Mortal Kombat," McQuoid explained, noting that he has multiple projects in development, including one that is currently in casting and is a departure from the fighting game genre.
Currently, Mortal Kombat 3 has no confirmed release date. In the interim, details about how Mortal Kombat 2 set up future storylines and potential spin-off ideas for characters like Kung Lao have been discussed.