NEED TO KNOW

• Jeremy Slater, who co-wrote the script for Mortal Kombat II, revealed that he has already been asked to work on the third movie during a panel at New York Comic Con

• “They are so convinced that there is a giant fanbase waiting for it that they already hired me to start writing the next installment,” he said

• The sequel follows the release of 2021’s Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat isn’t ready to say, “Finish him!”

Fans of the popular franchise were in for a treat during the Mortal Kombat II panel at New York Comic Con on Saturday, Oct. 11. Jeremy Slater, who co-wrote the script for the upcoming movie sequel, revealed that he has already been asked to work on a third movie. (He co-wrote the screenplay with Ed Boon and John Tobias.)

“Our friends at New Line and Warner Bros. are so happy with this movie. They are so excited. They are so convinced there is a giant fanbase waiting for it that they already hired me to start writing the next installment,” Slater told the audience.

The writer then encouraged fans to show up when the sequel releases in theaters in May 2026 to prove there is interest. “So when two comes out in theaters, make sure they know there is an audience for this movie, because we want to keep making them for you guys,” he said.

Joining Slater on the panel were stars Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Tati Gabrielle and Martyn Ford, along with filmmaker Simon McQuoid. Boon, co-creator of the Mortal Kombat fighting video game series, served as the moderator.

Mortal Kombat II introduces Urban’s Johnny Cage as he joins the battle to defeat Shao Kahn (Ford) and save the Earthrealm.

The sequel sees the return of McQuoid as the director, as well as Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Mehcad Brooks as Jackson “Jax” Briggs, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, and Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero. Rudolph, meanwhile, joins the cast as Kitana and Gabrielle as Jade.

The sequel follows the release of 2021’s Mortal Kombat.

During the panel, the director said the movie is “actually a victim of our own success,” when asked about its delay to 2026 after originally being slated to hit the big screen in October 2025.

“Every time people have seen this movie, it sort of gained momentum. And we’ve created a massive summer blockbuster. I think we should all be proud of the fact that Mortal Kombat II and the franchise itself is going to kick off summer next year,” McQuoid said. “So yes, we have to wait, but it’s going to feel massive when it comes out next year. That’s the reason.”

Urban also spoke about where the movie will find his iconic martial artist and actor character when he is entered into the Mortal Kombat tournament.

“When we first see him in Mortal Kombat II, he is a very dispirited character. His career is completely in the tank. He has not been keeping up with his martial arts training,” he said. “The world has forgotten who Johnny Cage is. He has very little of that brash, cocky Johnny Cage that you’d know from the games. He’s just a broken man.”

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“Through the course of the movie, you’re going to get to see him transform into a true champion of Earthrealm. A hero. You see him sort of involuntarily get launched into this insane action epic adventure.” Urban added.

Mortal Kombat II is set to release in theaters on May 15, 2026.

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