Fans have been waiting for a theatrical return for Mortal Kombat pretty much since Annihilation disappointed 21 years ago. Producer James Wan brought new hope when he joined the project in 2015, but there've been few significant updates since 2016 reports a director was attached.

Fans may've been hoping the announcement of a Mortal Kombat 11 video game sequel might move things along, but it seems unlikely. The Aquaman director commented on the status of the MK movie during a junket for Warner Brother's latest superhero blockbuster, telling Heroic Hollywood that budget, and a drive to "do the film right", will take time.

“That has been such a tricky one just trying to get the script to a point. People don’t know this, fans don’t understand this, but there’s just so much on the business side of things… to try and get the right budget for it, and we want to make sure we have enough resources and the budget to do the film right. If I can’t get the right resources and find the right filmmaker for it, I don’t want to do it, and I’m so busy already. I don’t need to clutter my plate with more stuff if I don’t believe it can be done right.”

The latest comment echoes sentiments Wan has already expressed, emphasizing a goal to "do it right". This was also the spirit when he and Game Director Ed Boon aggressively shot down rumors earlier this year.

Writer Greg Russo verified the veracity of some details, contextualizing the controversial report of characters and plot as based loosely on earlier stages of the creative process. Rewrites are a common part of the development process.

[Related Article: Vault: Paul Anderson on Mortal Kombat and Film Adaptation]

The measured response may spell further delays for fans eager to see Mortal Kombat back on the big screen, but the wait could also spell a better film. James Wan's Aquaman has already earned a record $95 million box office in China, and is on track to take the director to the biggest success of his career as a director.

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