Fans of the Mortal Kombat games and the 2021 movie will really enjoy this sequel. The film is full of references that show respect for the original games and feels like a true celebration of the franchise. Even if you’re new to Mortal Kombat, the story continues from the 2021 movie and introduces some engaging new characters, like Karl Urban’s portrayal of Johnny Cage.
Fans enjoyed seeing Shao Kahn brought to life and exciting fights in a tournament. This tournament wasn’t just a standalone event; it fit into a larger story. While Mortal Kombat II did wrap things up, it also hinted at future adventures and left viewers wanting more.
Fans are wondering what became of Liu Kang (Ludi Lin) and who Earthrealm’s next opponent will be after Shao Kahn. At the end of Mortal Kombat II, Earthrealm seemed to have Quan Chi in custody, hoping he could bring back their lost warriors. Shang Tsung is still out there too, but he might not be the biggest villain in a potential sequel.
The story behind Mortal Kombat is surprisingly deep and intricate, spanning many years and featuring different versions of events. Because the last game, Mortal Kombat II, ended with so many possibilities, it’s unclear who will be the main villain next. It could be a familiar enemy, or someone completely new – perhaps a character hinted at but not fully revealed, like Shao Khan was before the 2026 film.
6. Shao Khan
Shao Kahn is easily one of the most famous villains in the Mortal Kombat series. He’s a major character throughout the games, and he’s the primary bad guy in the movie Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.
In the climax of Mortal Kombat II, Kitana was the one who finally beat Shao Kahn. He’s a powerful villain in the 2026 film, and Martyn Ford did an excellent job portraying him. While Shao Kahn seemingly died in Mortal Kombat II, death isn’t necessarily final in the newer movies.
The newest Mortal Kombat movie introduced Quan Chi (played by Damon Herriman), and his powers are a big deal. He’s a master of necromancy, meaning he can revive the dead. The ending suggests Earthrealm intends to use him to bring back their defeated warriors.
It’s possible Quan Chi could use magic to bring Shao Kahn back to life in a future installment. However, doing so would likely negate the importance of everything that happened in Mortal Kombat II and lessen the impact of Kitana’s accomplishments in the film.
5. Onaga
Onaga isn’t the most obvious choice for a villain in Mortal Kombat III, but he could work. While most fans know Shao Kahn as the ruler of Outworld, Onaga actually ruled before him. Known as the Dragon King, Onaga was overthrown by Shao Kahn using poison. Though the poison killed him, his power was so great that people still worried about him coming back.
As we previously discussed, Quan Chi’s ability to resurrect people opens up a lot of possibilities for the story in Mortal Kombat III. Onaga is incredibly powerful and would be a much greater threat than anything we’ve seen in the films so far.
The video game Mortal Kombat Deception immediately shows just how powerful Onaga is. He’s able to fight off attacks from Quan Chi, Raiden, and Shang Tsung all at the same time. While Onaga is a memorable villain in Mortal Kombat, some players feel he appeared too suddenly without enough explanation of his strength.
Look, I wouldn’t count on seeing this character in the next Mortal Kombat movie just yet. While a return is possible down the line if they keep making films, there’s so much story from the games that hasn’t been adapted to screen – bringing him in now would feel really premature.
4. Quan Chi
As a huge fan of Mortal Kombat, I’m really excited about Quan Chi’s appearance in the new movies. It’s a game-changer for everyone! Seeing him bring Kano back to life was wild, and I have a feeling he’s going to be central to what happens with Earthrealm if they make a sequel. It really opens up so many possibilities for the characters we already know and love.
Quan Chi is a dangerous enemy in video games because he’s a powerful necromancer. While he isn’t physically strong, he’s incredibly clever. He can bring fighters back as undead revenants who are forced to obey him, and he’s used this ability to build large armies of these warriors.
A necromancer could be a serious challenge in a possible Mortal Kombat III game and is powerful enough to act as a major boss. However, using Quan Chi as the main villain in a future movie presents a problem – he doesn’t seem as intimidating or dangerous as someone like Shao Kahn.
Quan Chi is likely strong enough to serve as the main villain, even if he doesn’t feel quite as imposing as previous antagonists.
3. Shinnok
In Mortal Kombat II, the Amulet of Shinnok played a key role in the story. Shao Khan was already a powerful and dangerous ruler of Outworld, but the amulet made him even more formidable. Both viewers familiar with the series and dedicated fans know just how strong the amulet is and its significance to the characters.
Since the Amulet of Shinnok is now part of the story, it’s likely we’ll see Shinnok himself appear in a future film. He’s far more powerful than typical fighters – he’s a banished Elder God with the potential to cause immense destruction, far beyond anything we’ve witnessed in the movies so far.
According to the game’s story, Raiden was able to defeat this character. The Elder Gods then exiled him to the Netherrealm, though he eventually escaped and teamed up with Quan Chi. While it’s possible he could show up in Mortal Kombat III, other characters are currently more likely candidates.
Shinnok is incredibly powerful – you could compare him to a threat like Thanos. To make his return feel more impactful, it might be helpful to build up to it, considering that powerful enemies like Quan Chi and Shang Tsung are already established threats to Earthrealm.
2. Shang Tsung
Shang Tsung, played by Chin Han, is a strong contender to be the main villain in a potential Mortal Kombat II movie. Having appeared in both recent films, he’s established as a powerful and dangerous fighter from Outworld by the end of the 2026 release.
Despite being a powerful sorcerer, Shang Tsung hasn’t been a major focus in the recent Mortal Kombat movies. He won against Kung Lao in the 2021 film, and appeared to be secretly working towards his own goals in Mortal Kombat II.
The story of Mortal Kombat III might show what Shang Tsung is planning and how Earthrealm attempts to stop him. With Shao Kahn beaten and Quan Chi captured, Mortal Kombat II strongly suggests Shang Tsung will be the next big threat.
Shang Tsung is a well-known villain from the Mortal Kombat video games and the films made in the 1990s. While different actors—Han and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa—have played him, Shang Tsung consistently comes across as intelligent and cunning. He might be working towards a much bigger goal than just winning the Mortal Kombat tournament.
1. The Deadly Alliance
If you’re new to the world of Mortal Kombat, you might be surprised to see these villains again, as we’ve already discussed them. However, they’re such a powerful duo that they were the focus of an entire Mortal Kombat game, Deadly Alliance.
Quan Chi and Shang Tsung have formed an alliance, despite not liking each other. These two powerful sorcerers are working together—though reluctantly—to carry out a dangerous scheme.
The storyline in the games centers around Onaga’s plan. However, because the movies aren’t based on the game plots, the Deadly Alliance could still be the primary villains, but with a modified objective. After Mortal Kombat II, Shang Tsung remains dangerous, and Earthrealm has Quan Chi in custody, hoping he can bring their fallen allies back to life.
Quan Chi is a cunning villain who is good at escaping. If he manages to avoid the heroes, he might team up with Shang Tsung after the events of Mortal Kombat II. Together, this duo – known as the Deadly Alliance – is incredibly strong, potentially even defeating Raiden. Considering Shao Kahn’s defeat, a partnership between these two established villains makes logical sense, as Outworld needs a new power player.
2026-07-26 02:20