The wait for Mortal Kombat II just got longer. Warner Bros. 
and New Line Cinema have officially pushed the release of the sequel from October 24, 2025, to May 15, 2026. The studios believe the movie will thrive better in the crowded summer season, especially after the explosive reception to its first trailer earlier this year.
Directed once again by Simon McQuoid, the sequel brings Karl Urban into the fold as Johnny Cage, a fan-favorite character finally making his big-screen return. He’ll be joined by Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, and others. This chapter promises the franchise’s signature gore and high-stakes battles, with Earthrealm’s defenders facing Shao Kahn’s dark rule in an ultimate showdown.
Some fans see the delay as a smart move to allow more polish and possibly align with a future game release, while others argue that October’s Halloween-season vibe was the perfect fit for Mortal Kombat’s brutal aesthetic. The decision also raises eyebrows since October 2025 has relatively little blockbuster competition compared to May 2026, which is stacked with heavy hitters like the Mandalorian movie and more Marvel titles.
Karl Urban has hinted that his Johnny Cage starts out with “no self-confidence,” a twist on the usually over-the-top persona that could bring fresh energy to the character. Whether the move to summer blockbuster status helps the film or backfires in a crowded release calendar remains to be seen. One thing is certain: fans are hungry for more Mortal Kombat content, and the wait until 2026 will only stoke the fire.
1 comment
2 months away then suddenly a year delay? screams reshoots 👀