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Mortal Kombat is one of the most well-known and influential fighting game franchises on the planet. That success paved the way for the Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation movies in the 90s. The franchise took an extended hiatus from the silver screen until Mortal Kombat 2021, when it returned in a big way.
Mortal Kombat II launched in 2026, with a story picking up where the 2021 title left off. Both movies contain dozens of references to video game lore, making them exciting for longtime fans while remaining accessible to newcomers.
The latest title was packed with incredible fights between beloved heroes and villains. Mortal Kombat II also featured one of the franchise's most formidable antagonists in Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford). The ending of the 2026 film was very open-ended, paving the way for a sequel that could take the story in multiple directions.
Fans are already speculating whether a Mortal Kombat III may loosely follow a story from the games. Mortal Kombat II had a satisfying finale, but it practically begs for expansion, with several plot threads left unresolved. Naturally, we can't discuss the next Mortal Kombat story without talking about what fights we would like to see.
As the finale of Mortal Kombat II is so open-ended, it's hard to say how unlikely certain matchups would be. However, numerous fan-favorite fighters appeared in the 2026 movie who didn't feature in Mortal Kombat 2021, so almost nothing is off the table. There's all sorts of options a third movie could look to when it comes to arranging showdowns between established characters in the video game series.
Kitana Vs Mileena
Eagle-eyed fans may recall that Mileena (Sisi Stringer) died during Mortal Kombat 2021 while fighting Sonya Blade (Jessica McNamee) and Cole Young (Lewis Tan). However, her character has a horrifying link to Kitana (Adeline Rudolph) in the games, and we know death isn't always permanent.
In the Mortal Kombat 9 video game, we learn that Shao Kahn ordered Shang Tsung to create Mileena. He used Kitana's DNA, spliced with Tarkartan DNA, resulting in a character who looks like Kitana but with terrifying, sharp teeth. The clash is possible because Tarkartans already exist in Mortal Kombat II, and Kitana has become a major part of the story.
Kitana would be immediately invested in fighting a clone of herself, and Shang Tsung has also stayed out of the spotlight, so he's had time to put twisted plans in motion. Mileena and Kitana have similar power levels in the games, which would lead to a close fight and a conflict with emotional stakes.
Kenshi Vs Ermac
Fans who have only watched the movies won't know who Ermac or Kenshi are, but they are two of the most beloved fighters in the games. Ermac is a collection of souls bound by dark magic. One of those souls is particularly important to the new movies as it belongs to King Jerrod, Kitana's father.
Kenshi is another fan-favorite fighter. He's a swordsman who was manipulated by Shang Tsung, losing his sight in the process. It remains unclear whether Mortal Kombat III would introduce many new characters, but both fighters would delight fans of the series.
A clash between Kenshi and Ermac could be quite a spectacle, showcasing two very different fighting styles. Both have telekinetic powers, but that's where their similarities end.
Johnny Cage Vs Kintaro
Cole Young's battle with Goro was one of the most hotly discussed encounters in Mortal Kombat 2021. Young is an original fighter and took down the established Shokan warrior with relative ease. We now know that Young's power absorbs powerful hits, but audiences didn't learn this until Mortal Kombat II.
Regardless, the Goro vs Young fight was in the dark in a barn. If Mortal Kombat III introduced any new villains, it could give audiences an intense battle worthy of a Shokan. Kintaro serves Shao Kahn in the games and would prove a formidable adversary to Earthrealm. As Johnny Cage famously defeated Goro in the original movie, it could be a fun nod to that encounter to have him battle Kintaro.
If Mortal Kombat III were to explore Outworld affairs, Sheeva could be another potential Shokan warrior for our heroes to encounter. Her character is arguably more interesting, but either could become a powerful opponent.
Kuai Liang Vs Noob Saibot
Audiences were introduced to Noob Saibot in Mortal Kombat II, though the credits still listed the character as Bi-Han. He appeared to die in his battle against Hanzo Hazashi (Hiroyuki Sanada), though that fate is unlikely to be permanent.
One of the more complex characters in the video games is Kuai Liang. There's already plenty of established lore, but for the movies, he could take up the mantle of Sub-Zero. More interestingly, he would likely become an ally for Earthrealm, which would be a complete reversal of Sub-Zero in the 2021 movie.
Sub-Zero was notably absent in Mortal Kombat II. It made sense for the story and Bi-Han's character, but Kuai Liang could be a great excuse to bring the cryomancer back. Kuai Liang would fight Noob Saibot if he were still alive after the 2026 film. He's also Bi-Han's younger brother, so a new movie could explore their tragic relationship.
Liu Kang vs Shang Tsung
Liu Kang and Shang Tsung famously battled during the finale of Mortal Kombat 1995. It was a brilliant climax, featuring Robin Shou and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Audiences have not seen Shang Tsung (Chin Han) properly fight in the new Mortal Kombat movies, and this is something that could change in Mortal Kombat III.
A battle between Liu Kang (Ludi Lin) and Shang Tsung would be a great nod to the original movie. It could also become a grand spectacle, considering we don't really know what happened to Liu Kang during his battle with Shao Kahn.
Han's portrayal of the cunning sorcerer is quite different from Tagawa's. In the 1995 movie, Shang Tsung was a powerful magic user, but he was also a deadly brawler. Tsung is more cunning and manipulative in the reboots, and we've likely not seen him engage in Mortal Kombat because he would never enter a situation on equal footing.
He's clearly powerful and respected by his peers, and Mortal Kombat III could be where we finally see him unleash his power. The only Earthrealm fighter likely up to the task would be Liu Kang or Raiden.
Raiden Vs Shang Tsung and Quan Chi
While one-on-one fights are the standard in the franchise, the ending of Mortal Kombat II leaves the potential for a sequel to show off one of the most impactful pairings in the franchise's history for a potentially epic two-on-one battle. Quan Chi (Damon Herriman) and Shang Tsung are both incredibly powerful, but do not get along.
The duo set aside their differences for mutual gain and worked together in a partnership known as the Deadly Alliance. This union is so formidable that it could even stand up to Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano). The idea of Raiden battling both sorcerers is particularly exciting because it seems like it could happen.
All three characters are alive by the end of Mortal Kombat II, and Quan Chi is arguably too smart to stay captured for long. The fight would also finally give Raiden a chance to shine, as he's definitely played more of an overseeing role than a fighter in the reboots.
The Amulet of Shinnok was a major plot device in the 2026 movie, hinting at the appearance of Shinnok himself. However, it would arguably be more of a spectacle to see three Mortal Kombat characters we have history with battle it out rather than a newcomer, despite his strength.
