Another Mortal Kombat tournament is postponed. Warner Bros. has delayed the release to avoid competition with Scott Cooper's musical drama and the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel.
Warner Bros. and New Line have postponed the release of "Mortal Kombat 2" to May 15, 2026. The premiere was originally scheduled for October 24, 2025, but the studio decided to move the release to a more favorable window before the start of the summer season.
According to Deadline, the adjustment is due to high competition in October. The drama "Deliver Me from Nowhere" about Bruce Springsteen from 20th Century Studios and the adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel "It Ends With Us" from Paramount are expected to be released during this period. An additional factor was Halloween — traditionally a weak period for the start of major blockbusters.
The postponement strategy is based on the successful experience of the film "Final Destination: Bloodlines," released at a similar time. The project then grossed $51.6 million in its debut weekend, $138.1 million in the USA, and over $300 million worldwide. Warner Bros. is counting on comparable results from the new installment of Mortal Kombat.
The plot focuses on a new battle between the Earthrealm defenders against Shao Kahn and his army. The sequel will feature Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban, and the film itself is positioned as a dark and violent continuation of the original story based on the eponymous game franchise.
Simon McQuoid returned as director, with Jeremy Slater writing the script. The project also stars Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada.
The premiere of "Mortal Kombat 2" is scheduled for May 15, 2026. Several competitors are expected to be in theaters during this period, but the main one — the film "The Mandalorian & Grogu" — will be released a week later.
