Shah Rukh Khan has officially announced the release date for his upcoming action thriller, King, confirming that the film will hit theaters on December 24, 2026. The announcement, made on January 24, 2026, has sent waves of excitement through fans and the Bollywood film industry.
The film, directed by Siddharth Anand, marks a reunion for Khan and Anand, who previously collaborated on the blockbuster Pathaan. King is produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures. The film boasts an ensemble cast, including Shah Rukh Khan, his daughter Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Arshad Warsi, and Anil Kapoor. King marks Suhana Khan's second film project after her debut in The Archies.
The release date announcement was accompanied by a teaser, offering a glimpse into the high-octane action and stylized visuals that audiences can expect. The teaser showcases Shah Rukh Khan in a rugged, salt-and-pepper gangster look, instantly setting the tone for the film. Khan himself shared the announcement on social media, writing, "#KING is Ready to ROAR on 24.12.2026 in Cinemas #ItsKingTime #KingDateAnnouncement,". The teaser further says, "This Christmas, fear wears the crown".
Adding to the excitement, Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan Khan, acknowledged the teaser with a simple yet impactful "Baap" on his Instagram Stories, which translates to "father" in Hindi. Karan Johar, a long-time friend of Shah Rukh Khan, also shared the teaser on his Instagram Stories, exclaiming, "OMGGGGG! The internet just broke! Bhaiii you have killed it!". Shanaya Kapoor showed her support by commenting heart emojis on the announcement post.
The film's release strategically coincides with Christmas, positioning it as one of the major year-end cinematic offerings. According to reports, the makers of King chose the December 24th release date to ensure a sufficient gap between its release and that of Ramayana. Shah Rukh Khan was last seen on screen in Dunki, released in 2023.
