At this point, Mortal Kombat fans have been mentally and emotionally ko’d by the sequel that’s been more than four years in the making. So, imagine our surprise when some good news broke earlier this week surrounding the title’s release date. Instead of bowing on May 15, Mortal Kombat II will bring the fight one week sooner, with a new release date set for May 8, 2026. We know what you’re thinking — “Wow! This is the perfect thing to take my mom to on Mother’s Day weekend!” And you’re right. Your mom told us that seeing Karl Urban join the franchise as Johnny Cage is precisely the way she wants to spend the weekend that’s meant to be all about her.

In all fairness, fans should be sitting down this weekend to watch the next chapter unfold, as Mortal Kombat II’s original release date was October 24, 2025. Unfortunately, the date got pushed back quite a few months, so 2026 it is. But now with its new slot, audiences won’t need to pick between watching the most talented martial artists in the Earthrealm fight against the crushing power of Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), and the ultimate power that Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci will undoubtedly wield in The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is slated for a May 15 arrival. Of course, now you’ll just need to convince mom to see Mortal Kombat II instead of the ever-charming Hugh Jackman in Amazon MGM Studios’ The Sheep Detective.

What To Expect From ‘Mortal Kombat II’

Along with Urban introducing the beloved Johnny Cage into the universe, audiences can also expect to see other favorites from the video game of yesteryear, including Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Josh Lawson as Kano, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion, Joe Taslim as Noob Saibot, Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, Mechad Brooks as Jax, and more.

Previously laying out the premise for the hotly-anticipated sequel, producer, Todd Garner, explained,

“In the decades of Mortal Kombat lore, the relationship between Scorpion and Bi-Han, the original Sub-Zero, has unfolded as a story of violence, betrayal, and vengeance. Scorpion, of the Shirai Ryu clan, is haunted by the tragic murders of his family at the hands of Bi-Han. Following his own death, Scorpion’s spirit transforms into a merciless wraith, consumed by an insatiable thirst for revenge. As Scorpion relentlessly pursues Bi-Han, their intertwined destinies make their rivalry one of the most compelling storylines in the entire Mortal Kombat franchise.”

via Collider