Talk about a plot twist! The highly anticipated movie, Mortal Kombat II, just delivered a big surprise. Its first trailer was a massive hit, drawing 107 million global views. This was a record for a trailer meant only for mature audiences. Fans were ready for a fall release. But get this: the film won’t hit theaters in October 2024 as planned. Instead, we’ll now see it on May 15, 2026.
So, why the big delay? Industry insider Deadline spilled the beans, and it’s not because of trouble behind the scenes. In fact, early test screenings for the film went really well. The real reason is pure strategy. The studio wants to avoid a super busy fall movie season. That period is packed with other big releases. Think of the upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic, Deliver Me From Nowhere, or the Colleen Hoover adaptation, Regretting You. Moving the film to early summer is a calculated move. It’s a very competitive time at the box office, but also very profitable.
However, this new summer slot puts Mortal Kombat II right up against some serious competition. It will open near Is God Is from Amazon MGM Studios and a mystery project from Neon. Plus, in the weeks that follow, moviegoers can expect giants like The Mandalorian and Grogu, Masters of the Universe, Toy Story 5, and even Supergirl. It’s like stepping into a cinematic battle royale.
Let’s not forget the first Mortal Kombat film. It came out in 2021, right in the middle of the pandemic. It brought in $84.4 million worldwide. That might seem small on paper, but given the crazy times, it was seen as a win. Especially since it was a huge hit on streaming with HBO Max.
This second movie promises to be even bigger and bolder. Karl Urban is joining the cast as the fan-favorite character Johnny Cage. He’ll be surrounded by a talented group of actors, making this a true ensemble.
- **Adeline Rudolph**
- **Jessica McNamee**
- **Josh Lawson**
- **Ludi Lin**
- **Mehcad Brooks**
- **Tati Gabrielle**
- **Lewis Tan**
- **Damon Herriman**
- **Chin Han**
- **Tadanobu Asano** (playing Raiden)
- **Joe Taslim** (as Bi-Han)
- **Hiroyuki Sanada** (as Scorpion)
Simon McQuoid is back in the director’s chair. Jeremy Slater wrote the screenplay. It draws from the beloved universe created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. On the production side, we have names like Todd Garner, James Wan, and Toby Emmerich making things happen. The music will be handled by Benjamin Wallfisch.
Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute Mortal Kombat II around the world. You can catch it exclusively in theaters and IMAX on May 15, 2026. It’s likely that its release date in other countries will also be pushed back, probably to May 13, 2026 or May 20, 2026.