⚠️ Warning: Major SPOILERS ahead for Mortal Kombat II (2026). Read at your own risk!
The Mortal Kombat movie franchise has never been short of surprises — but the latest news coming out about Mortal Kombat III might just be the biggest twist yet. Screenwriter Jeremy Slater has confirmed that fan-favorite actor Lewis Tan is set to return in the third film, not as his old character Cole Young, but as a completely brand-new character from the Mortal Kombat game universe. And honestly? Fans couldn't be more excited.
Cole Young Is Dead — And It's Permanent
If you've already watched Mortal Kombat II (2026), you know exactly what happened. Cole Young, the original protagonist of the 2021 reboot played by Lewis Tan, meets his end at the hands of the terrifying Shao Kahn (played by Martyn Ford). It's brutal, it's shocking — and according to Jeremy Slater, it is 100% permanent. No resurrection. No second chance. Cole Young is gone for good.
The second film shifted its focus heavily toward Johnny Cage, portrayed by the charismatic Karl Urban, who quickly became the new face of the franchise. Alongside him, fan-favorite fighters like Kitana (Adeline Rudolph), Baraka (CJ Bloomfield), and the iconic Shao Kahn took center stage — giving hardcore game fans exactly what they had been waiting decades for.
Why Jeremy Slater Killed Off Cole Young
Jeremy Slater has been refreshingly honest about his feelings toward the Cole Young character. In multiple interviews, he openly admitted that he was never a fan of the original character — and he knew the hardcore Mortal Kombat community felt the same way.
Slater compared Cole Young's presence in the franchise to having a completely random, unknown character show up in an Avengers movie alongside Iron Man and Captain America. While everyone liked Lewis Tan as a performer, the character of Cole Young felt out of place in a world filled with iconic fighters that fans had loved for over 30 years. He was taking up valuable screen time that could have gone to established, beloved characters from the games.
So the decision was made — Cole Young had to go. And the death was written to be permanent, with no loopholes.
But Lewis Tan? He's Coming Back — As Someone New
Here's where things get really interesting. Just because Cole Young is dead doesn't mean Lewis Tan is done with Mortal Kombat. Far from it.
Speaking with MovieWeb, Jeremy Slater confirmed that he has plans to bring Lewis Tan back in Mortal Kombat III — this time portraying a completely different character, one that actually exists within the official Mortal Kombat game universe. Slater made it clear that while he had no love for the Cole Young character, he has huge respect for Lewis Tan as an actor and genuinely wants to find a proper place for him in the franchise going forward.
What makes this even more fascinating is that Lewis Tan himself has expressed strong interest in returning in a new role. He even revealed that earlier in his career, he was originally cast as Kung Jin in a Mortal Kombat project that never got made. That history shows he's always been connected to the game's roster of fighters — and now, it looks like that connection might finally pay off in Mortal Kombat III.
Mortal Kombat III Is Already Being Written
Warner Bros. is clearly betting big on this franchise. Even before Mortal Kombat II had fully run its course at the box office, the studio commissioned Jeremy Slater to begin working on the third film. Slater has confirmed that he is already on his second draft of the Mortal Kombat III script — which is a remarkable sign of how much confidence the studio has in the series.
Mortal Kombat II has earned over $101 million worldwide against an $80 million budget, and the numbers are still climbing. For a franchise that started modestly during the pandemic era, this is a massive step forward — and Warner Bros. wants to keep that momentum going.
What to Expect From Mortal Kombat III
Based on everything Slater has shared so far, Mortal Kombat III is shaping up to be the most game-accurate installment yet. The story will move entirely away from Cole Young and focus on the rich, established characters that fans know and love from the video games.
There's also the massive question of Liu Kang. His fate at the end of Mortal Kombat II was left deliberately ambiguous — did he die, or did he ascend to a higher plane of existence? Fans of the games already know that Liu Kang eventually transforms into the powerful Fire God version of himself, and Slater has strongly hinted that this iconic storyline is heading to the big screen in the third film.
Add to that the potential return of Lewis Tan as a brand-new, game-canon character, and Mortal Kombat III is already looking like it could be the best chapter in this rebooted series.
Final Thoughts
It's rare to see a major Hollywood franchise correct course this quickly and this effectively. By acknowledging the criticism around Cole Young, permanently closing that chapter, and finding a creative way to keep a talented actor like Lewis Tan in the story, the team behind Mortal Kombat III is showing a real understanding of what the fans actually want.
The future of this franchise has never looked brighter — and with Jeremy Slater already deep into writing the third film, it won't be long before we start hearing more official details.
What do you think — which Mortal Kombat game character should Lewis Tan play in Mortal Kombat III? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let us know your pick!
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