The Mortal Kombat movie sequel has a new release date, and it’s a week earlier. New Line and Warner Bros. have announced that Mortal Kombat 2 is now releasing on May 8, 2026, according to Deadline, and that’s a week prior to its previously announced release date of May 15, 2026.
In shifting a week earlier, Mortal Kombat 2 now opens on Mother’s Day weekend in the US. It’s also now set to release the same day as Sheep Detectives from Amazon MGM Studios.
The new date for Mortal Kombat 2 is slightly sooner, but it’s still much later than expected. New Line originally had the movie set for release on October 24, 2025 before delaying it more than seven months to May 2026.
New Line and Warner Bros. have had success in May, with Final Destination: Bloodlines setting a franchise record when it opened in May this year. Deadline reported that “research screenings” for Mortal Kombat 2 have been “strong, with New Line and Warner Bros. shifting the date to help it reach the widest possible audience and make the most possible money.
Director Simon McQuoid said the delay was due to the film being “a victim of our own success.”
“Every time people have seen this movie, it’s gained momentum,” the director said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “We’ve created a massive summer blockbuster, so I think we should all be proud of the fact that Mortal Kombat 2 and the franchise itself is going to kick off next year. Yes, we have to wait, but it’s going to feel massive when it comes out.”
The Boys’ Karl Urban is the most prominent addition to the cast of Mortal Kombat 2 as the fan-favorite Hollywood actor Johnny Cage. The cast also includes Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, and Tati Gabrielle as Jade.
At New York Comic-Con this month, Warner Bros. announced that it had greenlit Mortal Kombat 3.
