Nearly a decade after the release of "Injustice 2," the DC superhero-led fighting game series appears poised for a third installment. Phil LaMarr, the voice actor for Green Lantern and Aquaman in the series, recently revealed at a convention that "Injustice 3" is in the works, reigniting fervent fan discussion.
▼Phil LaMarr, who voices Green Lantern John Stewart, personally told a fan while signing autographs: "You know what? They're doing a new one, 'Injustice 3'."
The news comes as little surprise. NetherRealm Studios recently concluded its update roadmap for "Mortal Kombat 1," which included two waves of DLC characters and story expansions, signaling a shift to a new project.
Before the official announcement of "Mortal Kombat 1," "Injustice 3" was widely considered the studio's next likely project, given NetherRealm's history of alternating between its two major franchises. However, rumors in 2020 that Warner Bros. intended to sell the studio led NetherRealm to release two consecutive "Mortal Kombat" titles, delaying the return of "Injustice."
Currently, the biggest uncertainty surrounding "Injustice 3" lies in its narrative direction. When the first two installments launched in 2013 and 2017, DC Comics was open to portraying Superman as a villain or an antagonist to Batman, a dynamic seen in films like "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and games such as "Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League."
However, in recent years, DC and Warner Bros. have gradually shifted their strategy, actively working to rebuild Superman's image as a symbol of hope and a protector of family, reintroducing the hero to audiences through James Gunn's upcoming "Superman" film.
Consequently, with global audiences now favoring a more altruistic and positive version of Superman, it will be a significant challenge for the development team to ensure "Injustice 3" doesn't alienate market expectations if it continues with a darker narrative.
While the "Injustice" storyline is inherently set in a parallel universe, allowing for an authoritarian Superman to constantly challenge order and confront greater threats alongside Batman and other Justice League members, how NetherRealm will navigate this dilemma, and what surprises the initial character roster will hold, will likely only be revealed when the game is officially announced.
via： Gizmodo