Mortal Kombat II‘s release date delay gets a possible explanation in a revealing new report. Directed by Simon McQuoid, the follow-up to 2021’s Mortal Kombat was originally slated to hit theaters this coming October, but it was announced in late August that the video game adaptation will now bow on May 15, 2025.
The Mortal Kombat 2 cast features Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, with Ludi Lin, Jessica McNamee, Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Tati Gabrielle, among others, also starring. The sequel, which is expected to follow the franchise’s fan-favorite champions as they face off against Shao Khan (Martyn Ford), is highly anticipated, but the delay has raised questions about the movie.
A new report from ᴅᴇᴀᴅline now sheds light on Warner Bros.’ decision to delay the film, and it actually could be due to Superman (2025). The James Gunn film has grossed $614 million worldwide and has been a big success for the studio, reportedly pushing them comfortably into the black in terms of 2025 ROI.
With Mortal Kombat 2 now landing in 2026, that film now has tentpole weight for Warner Bros. The move communicates the studio’s optimism regarding the film as a financial performer, with that movie’s box office now counting toward 2026 rather than the already-successful 2025.
What This Means For Mortal Kombat 2
Though movie delays can sometimes be cause for concern, as such decisions can be driven by the need for reshoots or a movie’s lack of clear marketability, Mortal Kombat 2‘s delay could actually be a promising sign. Warner Bros. may be confident in the quality and appeal of the film and see it as a potential money-maker.
The fact that 2021’s Mortal Kombat only grossed $84 million could actually further speak to the sequel’s quality. Warner Bros. seemingly isn’t basing the delay decision on past franchise performance; it’s basing it on the potential it sees with the movie itself.
Mortal Kombat‘s box office was obviously heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the $55 million budgeted film remains an underperformer by normal Hollywood standards.
Of course, none of this is confirmed and there’s a healthy amount of speculation here, but audiences could be in for an improvement over the 2021 entry. On Rotten Tomatoes, Mortal Kombat has a lackluster 55% critics score but an 85% Popcornmeter score. The sequel could surpᴀss these figures.
If the sequel can serve as a worthy follow-up after the Mortal Kombat ending, it’s possible the franchise could further expand. A third film, for example, could be put into development if the sequel ends up performing at the box office.
Our Take On Mortal Kombat 2’s Reported Delay Explanation
If Mortal Kombat 2 ends up being a strong entry in the franchise, it will mark another exciting win for those who enjoy video game adaptations. In recent years, projects like The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), A Minecraft Movie (2025), Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023), and HBO’s The Last of Us have all found success.
Looking just at Mortal Kombat, though, the sequel being good would mean this video game franchise is finally reaching its full potential. The games have been around for decades, but two 1990s adaptations were quite poor. Mortal Kombat 2 could mark the start of a new era for the franchise.
