Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming film King is scheduled for release on December 24, 2026, placing it within a competitive holiday period alongside major Hollywood releases. While Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three arrive six days earlier on December 18, and Jumanji: The Open World follows on December 25, all three films will compete for audiences and premium screen allocations during the lucrative Christmas and New Year period. When asked about the crowded calendar in an online session, Khan responded with characteristic humour, suggesting his film would be the 'centre's tasty tikki' sandwiched between the blockbusters.

King marks Khan's theatrical return after a two-year absence from cinemas, with his last three releases occurring in 2023 (Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki). The film is directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, representing another collaboration between the director and actor following Pathaan. The cast includes Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Abhay Verma, and Arshad Warsi, with Deepika marking her sixth film pairing with Khan. The timing was announced in January 2026, and Khan confirmed in September that no release date change was planned despite increasing calendar congestion.