Shah Rukh Khan's 'King' stays locked for Christmas release despite buzz of delay

Shah Rukh Khan's film 'King' remains scheduled for a December 24, 2026 release, despite rumors of a delay.

'King' will compete at the box office with 'Avengers: Doomsday', 'Dune: Part Three', and 'Jumanji: Open World', which release around the same time.

'Avengers: Doomsday' is expected to be the strongest competition, given the Marvel franchise's popularity in India, as seen with 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'.

'King' has a home advantage in India due to Shah Rukh Khan's popularity and the film's Hindi-language appeal, but may face screen challenges internationally.

Postponing the release to 2027 would have posed equally challenging competition, according to trade experts.