After the recent announcement that Mortal Kombat II has been pushed from October 24, 2025, to May 15, 2026, fans voiced mixed reactions onlineâbut the cast and crew are speaking up to keep the hype alive.
Fans arenât only unhappy with the seven-month delay, but now Mortal Kombat II will face Disney and Lucasfilmâs big Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian & Grogu, which is set to be released a week later on May 22, 2026.
You could actually make the argument MK2 had zero competition with that October release date.
Karl Urban: âItâs a Summer Movieâ
On Instagram, Johnny Cage actor Karl Urban acknowledged fansâ frustration but teased something big is coming:
âMortal Kombat II is now a summer movie đ„ I guess this is what happens when your red band trailer smashes records with 107 million views in 24hrs đ„đđœ The MK2 cast will be at NY Comic Con Oct 9-12. If youâre a lil bummed at the delay (apologies)⊠but ya might want to be in that room⊠Just sayin đđ„đđœâ
Urbanâs tease strongly suggests that new footage or announcements will hit at New York Comic Con, giving fans a solid reason to stay tuned despite the delay.
Todd Garner: âMovie Is Done. This Is About Fan Reactionâ
Producer Todd Garner was active on X, responding directly to fan complaints and defending the move to May 2026:
When a fan called May a âgreat release date,â Garner replied: âAgree with every word of this post.â
Responding to backlash over the delay due to competition with films like Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, Garner said: âMK is a summer franchise.â
Addressing the idea that the film needs more time to be perfected, Garner clarified: âMovie is done. This is all about how massive the fan reaction was and how great the movie tested.â
On whether October was a missed opportunity: âWhy would it do well in October when Halloween is the next weekend and not May when itâs summer?â
One fan vented about the five-year gap between the first and second film: âAbsolutely UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!â Garner agreed: âI agree. Hopefully after this one we never have that big of gap again between movies.â
When asked if delaying because of high trailer views made sense: âThere will be more.â
Why the Delay?
According to Deadline, Warner Bros. believes Mortal Kombat II will perform better in the more lucrative summer box office window.
The film tested strongly (even being compared to Avengers: Endgame), and with the first red-band trailer generating over 107 million global views in 24 hours, the studio saw an opportunity to capitalize on the momentum in a less crowded timeframe.
What about Star Wars?
With MK2 testing so well, it seems theyâre not afraid of Disney Star Wars, which is actually a sound argument to make. Star Wars isnât the force (pardon the pun) it used to be. The Mandalorian & Grogu has a lot to prove.
It shows they have a lot of faith in Mortal Kombat, which says a lot.
Whatâs Next?
Urban confirmed that the cast will appear at New York Comic Con (Oct 9â12). Given his comments, expect new footage or surprises revealed during the panel.
Mortal Kombat II will now open in theaters and IMAX on May 15, 2026.
Watch the trailer:
