Mortal Kombat 2 Release Date Faces Last-Minute Delay As The Sequel Becomes Summer Movie

The scheduled Mortal Kombat II has been delayed. Starring Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, the Simon McQuoid-directed sequel based on Ed Boon and John Tobias’ video game was originally scheduled to arrive theatrically on October 24. With a screenplay from Jeremy Slater, the upcoming movie will see fan-favorite champions in the ultimate battle to defeat Shao Kahn an save the Earth realm.

Urban is joined by Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅline first reported that the highly anticipated Mortal Kombat II will be delayed to May 15, 2026, nearly six months from its original release date. This comes after the movie trailer’s record-breaking success, which garnered around 107 million global views in the first 24 hours after its release on July 17.

What This Means For Mortal Kombat II

Johnny Cage gritting his teeth in preparation in the Mortal Kombat 2 trailer

The new release date would put the highly anticipated video game adaptation sequel movie in a busier summer slot. On the same day, Amazon MGM Studios will release Aleshea Harris’ film adaptation of the award-winning play, Is God Is, starring Kara Young, Sterling K. Brown, Mollori Johnson, and Janelle Monáe in a thriller about a pair of twin sisters going on a quest to kill their father.

So far, May 2026 is expected to feature several highly anticipated blockbusters, including The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22, the animated sequel Super Mario World, and a potential sequel to The Devil Wears Prada. This means May could potentially be an exciting month for moviegoers.

Our Take On Mortal Kombat II’s Release Delay

Even though it’s six months after the original scheduled time, May 2026 could potentially be a better slot for the highly anticipated Mortal Kombat sequel. The movie will face tough compeтιтion at the box office, but with several blockbusters arriving in the same month, this means there could be a boost in moviegoers.

While no explanation was given for the delay, it’s likely due to a shift in marketing strategy rather than production-related issues. The movie’s original release month mainly features thrillers and horrors, including The Black Phone 2 and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstian. Nevertheless, May sounds like a better fit for Mortal Kombat II, despite a rise in compeтιтion.