MORTAL KOMBAT II Throws Down New Release Date for Summer 2026
Fans were ready to rumble this fall, but Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have officially shifted the release date for Mortal Kombat II. The highly anticipated sequel will now unleash its brutal fury on May 15, 2026, instead of its originally planned October 24, 2025 release.
So why the delay? Turns out, it’s apparently all about maximizing impact. Despite the record-breaking red-band trailer racking up a monstrous 107 million global views, the studio saw bigger box office potential in a summer slot.
October was already packed with competition like 20th Century Studios’ Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere starring Jeremy Allen White, and Paramount’s upcoming Regretting You, based on Colleen Hoover’s novel. Add Halloween to the mix and it just didn’t scream “hit release window.”
The decision is a strategic move, especially considering the success Warner Bros. had with Final Destination: Bloodlines this past May. That film opened to a franchise-best $51.6 million and ultimately pulled in $138.1 million domestically and $301 million worldwide.
So far, things are looking promising for Mortal Kombat II. Test screenings have reportedly been strong, and the sequel brings an expanded cast of kombatants.
Karl Urban steps in as the fan-favorite Johnny Cage, joining returning fighters like Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han, and Hiroyuki Sanada reprising his role as Hanzo Hasashi aka Scorpion.
Written by Jeremy Slater, and based on the classic video game created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, the sequel is directed once again by Simon McQuoid.
Mortal Kombat II will dive into the blood-soaked battle to take down Shao Kahn’s dark empire, with Earthrealm’s champions, now joined by Johnny Cage, facing their most brutal challenge yet.