Shah Rukh Khan unveiled a new King poster on Tuesday, October 27, confirming that his action-thriller King will release in cinemas worldwide on December 24, 2026. The Shah Rukh Khan King poster puts an end to weeks of speculation about a possible delay, with the actor’s own social media post carrying the date in bold.
According to IANS, Shah Rukh shared the poster on Instagram with the caption, “Aaj phir yaad aaya… Qaatil nahi Aashiq hoon,” which translates as “I am not a killer, I am a lover.” The image shows him with a rose between his lips and a gun in his hand, a contrast that sets the tone for the film.
A Gritty New Look for King
The poster shows Shah Rukh in a gritty, vengeful avatar, striding out of a tunnel engulfed in flames with an unbuttoned dark shirt exposing a bloodied chest. Another report describes the design as leaning into a “ruthless” mood, with the warning “Do Not Open” printed across it.
The reveal comes just days ahead of Shah Rukh’s 61st birthday on November 2, when reports say a further glimpse of the film is expected. The timing has turned the poster drop into a birthday-week event for fans.
The Cast and the Christmas Clash
King is directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures. It stars Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Jaideep Ahlawat, Jackie Shroff, Raghav Juyal and Abhay Verma.
The film marks the first time Shah Rukh will share screen space with his daughter Suhana, who made her acting debut with The Archies in 2023. Abhishek Bachchan plays the primary antagonist, a dark and violent villain, according to IANS.
The December 24 date puts King directly into one of the busiest Christmas windows in years, competing with Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three. Shah Rukh has said he is closely overseeing post-production and visual effects, telling fans in a recent interactive session that he has been pulling late nights with the visual effects team to deliver the best possible film.
Why King Matters
Shah Rukh was last seen on screen in Dunki in 2023, and King is his first theatrical release in three years. His reunion with Siddharth Anand, after their Pathaan collaboration in 2023, carries major commercial weight in Hindi cinema, and the Christmas date signals the makers’ confidence in the film as a year-end event.
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