Mortal Kombat II Release Date Pushed to May 2026

LOS ANGELES, August 30, 2025 - Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema announced today that Mortal Kombat II, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2021 reboot, has been moved from its original October 24, 2025, release to May 15, 2026. The studio cited an overcrowded fall movie slate and the desire to maximize audience turnout as key factors in the decision.

According to Deadline, the postponement aims to position the film at the beginning of next year’s lucrative summer season, avoiding competition with several major October releases and the traditional Halloween surge in horror fare. Despite exceptionally positive test screening reactions and a record-breaking red-band trailer that garnered 107 million views in its first 24 hours, the strategic shift reflects Warner Bros.’ effort to secure optimal box office returns.

Industry analysts note that Mortal Kombat II’s new slot not only alleviates crowded Q4 scheduling pressures but also offers the franchise a springboard into a less congested market, with the potential for a breakout hit status next May.

Directed by Simon McQuoid and scripted by Jeremy Slater, the sequel reunites returning stars Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada, while adding Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, and Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn. Production wrapped earlier this year following delays caused by the SAG-AFTRA strike, and early footage teased at CinemaCon showcased “incredible fights, grand battles, and a few fatalities,” according to New Line’s head Richard Brener.

With its May 15, 2026 debut, Mortal Kombat II will kick off Warner Bros.’ summer slate, offering fans a no-holds-barred continuation of the Earthrealm saga.