Mortal Kombat II Pushed to Summer 2026

Los Angeles, August 29, 2025 - Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have officially postponed the theatrical debut of Mortal Kombat II, moving the sequel from its original October 24, 2025 release date to May 15, 2026.

The decision comes after the film’s red-band trailer amassed a record-breaking 107 million global views, prompting studio executives to seek a less crowded launch window and capitalize on the more lucrative early summer box office. October 2025 is already slated to host high-profile releases such as Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and Paramount’s adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Regretting You, leading Warner Bros. to shift its strategy away from the Halloween frame to ensure maximum impact.

According to Deadline, the May 2026 slot offers Mortal Kombat II a stronger opportunity to dominate theaters, following Warner Bros./New Line’s recent summer successes. To commemorate the new date, the studio unveiled an announcement poster featuring returning cast members Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Joe Taslim as the resurrected Bi-Han/Noob Saibot, and Karl Urban joining as Johnny Cage alongside Lewis Tan’s Cole Young.

Mortal Kombat II, directed by Simon McQuoid and penned by Jeremy Slater, continues the brutal saga of Earthrealm’s champions as they face Shao Kahn’s dark forces. The sequel marks the first on-screen confrontation between Scorpion and Noob Saibot, promising fans an even bloodier clash than its predecessor.

With its new May 15, 2026 release date, Mortal Kombat II aims to stake its claim as the blockbuster video game adaptation of the summer.