Amazon MGM Studios’ sci-fi thriller “Mercy” has been delayed. The movie, directed by Timur Bekmambetov and written by Marco van Belle, was originally set to be released on August 15, 2025, but will now premiere on January 23, 2026.
The movie, which stars Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, and an ensemble cast, follows a detective attempting to clear his name in the near future. The delay is not attributed to any specific reason, but some speculate that it could be due to delays during post-production.
While January is often seen as a dumping ground for titles that lack studio confidence, the fact that “Mercy” was originally slated for an August release date suggests that the studio may have had faith in the film’s potential. August has traditionally been a month for genre movies, and the 2025 slate includes titles like Edgar Wright’s “The World’s End” and Adam Wingard’s “You’re Next.”
The new release date may actually be a good thing for “Mercy,” as it avoids direct competition with the Liam Neeson-led “Naked Gun” reboot and the legacy sequel “Freakier Friday.” The movie’s new release date falls on a weekend following the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, which may attract audiences looking for a new title to watch.
It’s possible that Amazon MGM Studios is confident in the movie’s ability to perform well, even with competition from the animated sequel “Aang: The Last Airbender.” The new release date could be a sign that the studio has faith in the film’s appeal and believes it can hold its own against other genre titles.
