Warner Bros. Shifts Mortal Kombat II Release To May 2026

Warner Bros. and New Line have postponed the release of Mortal Kombat II from October 24, 2025, to May 15, 2026, aiming to capitalize on a less crowded summer box office window and replicate the success of other May releases like Final Destination: Bloodlines. The decision follows strong early screening responses and the viral success of the film's red-band trailer, which garnered 107 million global views. The sequel will introduce Karl Urban as Johnny Cage alongside returning cast members such as Lewis Tan, Ludi Lin, and Tadanobu Asano, with the story focusing on a battle to stop Shao Kahn's dark rule threatening Earthrealm. The move avoids competition with other major October releases, including Disney’s Tron: Ares and Universal’s The Black Phone 2, and positions Mortal Kombat II to kick off the 2026 summer movie season. The Mortal Kombat franchise has a strong box office history, grossing over $250 million worldwide, and the new film builds on the success of the 2021 reboot, which earned $84.4 million theatrically. Directed by Simon McQuoid with a screenplay by Jeremy Slater, the film continues to draw from the iconic video game series and a dedicated fanbase.