Mortal Kombat II Just Moved Its Release Date — And Fans Win Big
Mortal Kombat II has switched dates again—and this time fans come out on top. Simon McQuoid’s sequel to the 2021 hit, starring Karl Urban, Josh Lawson and Jessica McNamee, is shifting to a release window that plays in their favor.
Mortal Kombat II shuffled its release date again, but for once it moved earlier. If you were circling mid-May 2026, bump your plans up a week.
Release date shuffle, again
Warner Bros. and New Line originally had the sequel set for October 24, 2025. Then in August, they punted it to May 15, 2026. Now the studio slid it up to May 8, 2026. Honestly, smart strategy: this gives the movie a little breathing room before Lucasfilm drops The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22.
As of right now, the only other wide release on May 8, 2026 is The Sheep Detectives, a mystery comedy from director Kyle Balda starring Hugh Jackman, Emma Thompson, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, and more. Not exactly the same audience as a gory tournament of death, so MK fans should be fine.
Why the move
Deadline spelled out the logic behind ditching that crowded late-October window (which includes 20th Century Studios' Jeremy Allen White Springsteen drama Springsteen Deliver Me From Nowhere and Paramount's Colleen Hoover adaptation Regretting You) and chasing a bigger May payoff. The sequel also just pulled massive interest with its red-band trailer, which racked up 107 million global views. In their words:
"Why is a highly anticipated sequel moving to next year after notching record views for a red-band trailer (107M global views)? Precisely that: the Simon McQuoid-directed sequel is bound to deliver tons more in mid-May than staying in the crowded late October frame where 20th Century Studios' Jeremy Allen White Bruce Springsteen movie, Springsteen Deliver Me From Nowhere, and the next Colleen Hoover feature take, Paramount's Regretting You, exists."
What you’re getting
This is the follow-up to 2021's Mortal Kombat, again directed by Simon McQuoid and based on the long-running video game series. The roster is stacked, with some returning faces and a few big additions:
- Karl Urban as Johnny Cage
- Josh Lawson as Kano
- Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade
- Adeline Rudolph as Kitana
- Ludi Lin as Liu Kang
- Mehcad Brooks as Jax
- Tati Gabrielle as Jade
- Lewis Tan as Cole Young
- Damon Herriman as Quan Chi
- Joe Taslim as Bi-Han/Noob Saibot
- Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi/Scorpion
Bottom line: Mortal Kombat II now hits theaters May 8, 2026. A week earlier than planned, a safer lane before Star Wars-adjacent competition, and a marketing engine already pulling big numbers. Feels like the right call.
(First reported by Brandon Schreur at SuperHeroHype.)