The King movie is Shah Rukh Khan’s big Christmas release, scheduled to hit theatres on 24 December 2026. Directed by Siddharth Anand, who earlier delivered Pathaan, the Hindi action thriller casts Shah Rukh Khan as a highly skilled assassin and marks the theatrical debut of his daughter Suhana Khan as his apprentice. With a reported budget of ₹350 crore, a star-studded cast and a high-profile festive date, King is one of the most awaited Indian films of the year. Here is everything we know so far.
Key Points
- Releases in theatres on 24 December 2026 (Christmas Eve).
- Shah Rukh Khan plays an assassin, and Suhana Khan plays his apprentice.
- Abhishek Bachchan is the main antagonist.
- Dubbed versions are planned in English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
Table of Contents
King Movie Release Date
Shah Rukh Khan confirmed the 24 December 2026 release with an announcement video, placing the film right in the Christmas holiday window. This period traditionally brings strong family footfalls and long weekends. Apart from the original Hindi version, the King movie will release in dubbed English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam versions, giving it a genuine pan-India and international reach. Pen Marudhar will handle distribution in India, while Yash Raj Films is reported to handle overseas distribution.
The Christmas date also creates a major clash with Hollywood. Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three both open in mid-December, and their premium screens could overlap with King’s release week. However, Shah Rukh Khan’s Indian fan base and festive timing give the film a strong advantage at home. For Kerala audiences, the Malayalam dubbed version could add extra reach, especially in multiplexes across Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode during the holidays.
King Movie Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| — | — |
| Shah Rukh Khan | Highly skilled assassin |
| Suhana Khan | His apprentice (theatrical debut) |
| Abhishek Bachchan | Main antagonist |
| Abhay Verma | Pivotal role |
| Deepika Padukone | Ensemble cast |
| Rani Mukerji, Anil Kapoor | Ensemble cast |
| Jaideep Ahlawat, Arshad Warsi | Ensemble cast |
| Kareena Kapoor | Special appearance |
Story and Inspiration
The King movie reportedly takes inspiration from the 1994 French film Léon: The Professional, which followed a hitman who trains a young girl. In King, the story centres on an assassin mentoring an apprentice, a premise that allows both action and emotional drama between Shah Rukh Khan and Suhana Khan. The writing team includes Sujoy Ghosh, who wrote the original story and was first attached as director, along with Siddharth Anand, Suresh Nair and Sagar Pandya, with dialogues by Abbas Tyrewala.
Siddharth Anand took over direction in late 2024. His recent films, including War, Pathaan and Fighter, are known for large-scale action and slick visuals, so audiences can expect stylish set pieces. Filming took place in Mumbai, Warsaw, Gdańsk and Cape Town, suggesting an international setting for parts of the story. A planned Dubai schedule was reportedly moved to Mumbai. Together, these details point to a globe-trotting action thriller built around a strong emotional core.
Music and Technical Team
Songs for the King movie are composed by the duo Sachin–Jigar, while the background score is by Anirudh Ravichander, who has worked on major hits like Jawan and Jailer. Having Anirudh on board has excited southern audiences in particular, as his scores are known for high-energy mass moments. Fans can expect a theme track that builds Shah Rukh Khan’s larger-than-life screen persona. Official music releases are likely to begin closer to the December release date.
The film is produced by Gauri Khan, Siddharth Anand, Mamta Anand and Shah Rukh Khan under Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures. Reports put the budget at around ₹350 crore, making it one of the most expensive Hindi productions of the year. Red Chillies VFX is expected to handle much of the visual work. The scale indicates that the makers are aiming for a global blockbuster rather than just a domestic festive release.
King Movie and Shah Rukh Khan’s Recent Run
Shah Rukh Khan returned to blockbuster form with Pathaan and Jawan, which together reshaped the Hindi box office after the pandemic years. Those successes raised expectations for every new project, and the King movie carries that weight. Unlike his earlier spy and vigilante roles, here he plays a seasoned assassin guiding a young apprentice, which gives room for a more mature, layered performance. Fans across Kerala and the Gulf are eagerly waiting to see how this emotional action story unfolds on screen.
Teaser and Promotions
The title and first look were revealed on 2 November 2025, Shah Rukh Khan’s 60th birthday, and fans expect further promotional material around his birthday this year as well. A full trailer has not been dated yet. Big Hindi films usually release trailers four to six weeks before release, so promotions should intensify in November. With Jailer 2 and Ramayana Part 1 dominating headlines this season, the King movie team is likely to time its campaign carefully for maximum impact.
Social media buzz around Suhana Khan’s debut is strong, and many viewers are curious to see the father-daughter pairing on screen. Abhishek Bachchan as the villain is another talking point. While waiting, you can read our Ramayana Part 1 release date guide for another big release this season, or check our Jailer 2 review for the latest star-driven blockbuster now in theatres.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the King movie releasing?
King is scheduled to release in theatres on 24 December 2026.
Who is the villain in King?
Abhishek Bachchan plays the main antagonist.
Is King a remake of Léon: The Professional?
Reports say it is inspired by the 1994 French film, not a direct remake.
Will King release in Malayalam?
Yes, a Malayalam dubbed version is planned along with English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
Conclusion
The King movie brings together Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and a large ensemble in a stylish assassin thriller from Siddharth Anand. With a Christmas Eve release, Anirudh Ravichander’s score and a ₹350 crore budget, it is set to be one of the year’s biggest cinematic events. The clash with Hollywood blockbusters will make the holiday season exciting for movie lovers. Watch for the trailer and advance booking announcements in the coming weeks.
For production and cast details, see the film’s Wikipedia page). Explore more cinema news on CinemasDiary as we track the biggest releases heading to theatres. Tell us in the comments whether you plan to watch the King movie on the first day, and which language version you will choose for your theatre visit. We will update this King movie page as soon as new details arrive.
