The highly anticipated cinematic sequel, Mortal Kombat II, has been officially delayed, pushing its release date from October 24, 2025, to May 15, 2026. Following the plot of the 2021 movie, Simon McQuoid's sequel pits the Earthrealm champions against a new threat, for which they must participate in the Outworld tournament this time.The film will introduce fan-favorite characters, most notably Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban. Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, and Lewis Tan as Cole Young will also return to the cast. With newcomers and returning characters embarking on personal journeys and old rivalries while battling for Earthrealm's survival, the plot promises a bloody, no-holds-barred war.Mortal Kombat II release delayed: New date set for May 2026 View this post on Instagram Instagram PostA sequel to the 2021 martial arts fantasy film, Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II has been rescheduled for its theatrical release as a strategic decision by Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema, reportedly to avoid a crowded fall box office and position the film for a stronger summer debut. The news arrived when Warner Bros. reshuffled several titles on its release calendar.The production completed filming in Australia and Gold Coast studios by January 2024, after delays from the SAG-AFTRA strike. With a script by Jeremy Slater and direction by Simon McQuoid, Mortal Kombat II is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and produced by Atomic Monster and New Line Cinema.The prequel introduced a new champion, Cole Young (Lewis Tan), while re-establishing iconic characters like Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Sonya Blade, and Kano. It performed well at the box office and was a massive success on HBO Max, particularly during the pandemic, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.Its blend of brutal action scenes and game-accurate deaths reignited the fan base, laying the groundwork for a larger cinematic universe. Mortal Kombat II is expanding the universe with new cast members, including Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, as well as several returning cast members from the previous film.The films are based on the popular fighting video game series of the same name, created by Midway Games. Additionally, the film's plot follows a similar storyline to the games, where Earthrealm champions compete in a tournament to save their world.What is the plot of Mortal Kombat (2021)?The plot follows Cole Young, a struggling MMA fighter and a new character to the franchise. Unaware of his hidden heritage, he is hunted by the cryomancer Sub-Zero, an assassin from the Outworld realm. Eventually, Cole is taken to the temple of the thunder god Raiden, where he discovers the old prophecy connected to his ancestry and his fate.The film serves as an origin story, focusing on Cole's journey to awaken his special power, or "arcana," as he trains alongside other champions, including Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Sonya Blade, and Jax. The movie ends with a series of vicious, bloody fights in which the heroes must confront their enemies and tap into their inner strength.Mortal Kombat II is scheduled to release on May 15, 2026. Stay tuned for more updates.