Simon McQuoid uncertain about directing Mortal Kombat 3

Director Simon McQuoid has expressed uncertainty regarding his return to direct a third Mortal Kombat film, noting that the project's future is currently unclear. In an interview with TheWrap, McQuoid stated, "I don't know yet. I'm not sure," explaining that he is interested in pursuing other stories and character studies currently in development.

The uncertainty follows the underwhelming commercial performance of Mortal Kombat 2, which released in May 2026. Despite an estimated $80 million production budget, the sequel earned approximately $129 million globally, failing to meet high box office expectations after a five-year gap following the 2021 reboot.

While screenwriter Jeremy Slater previously indicated that New Line and Warner Bros. were pleased with the second installment and that he had begun work on a script for a third film, the franchise's momentum appears stalled. The long hiatus between films and middling financial results have left the future of the live-action adaptation series in limbo.