Kalki 2898 AD: Trailer, Story & Everything We Know (2024)

The 2023 San Diego Comic-Con was set ablaze by Kalki 2898 AD news as a stunning trailer was released for the first Indian film to be represented in Hall H at the SDCC. Previously known as Project K, Indian production company Vyjayanthi Movies held a panel in Hall H at the 2023 SDCC, debuting its most ambitious project yet and garnering international attention for the upcoming sci-fi epic. Kalki 2898 AD blends Indian mythology and sci-fi sensibilities to create the dystopian "Spice Punk" world in which darkness encroaches and an incarnated hero rises to the ultimate challenge.

Featuring a stellar cast of Indian film celebrities, hopes that Kalki 2898 AD news will declare an international release date are high as the trailer's out-of-this-world visuals and spellbinding story have captured attention everywhere. Kalki 2898 AD news has released with a bang, rather than a trickle, as the film also has the highest estimated budget in Indian film history. Director Nag Ashwin (Mahanati) is at the helm of this glorious epic, promising a tale of triumph, bravery, and rebirth. Here's everything that's known about Kalki 2898 AD, including the most recent news, cast, story, and trailer that was presented at the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con.

Related: Is RRR Based On A True Story?

The Most Recent Kalki 2898 AD News

The most recent Kalki 2898 AD news is that the trailer released at the 2023 SDCC basically took the entire event by storm. As previously mentioned, Kalki 2898 AD was the first Indian film to ever receive a special panel and showcase a trailer in Hall H. Indian cinema has begun to have a major impact on American audiences, starting with the epic RRR receiving wins at both the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. RRR set the stage for Indian cinema to become popularized in the US, and Kalki 2898 AD is sure to be one of many Indian films that find mainstream international success.

Kalki 2898 AD Release Date

Unfortunately, there is no Kalki 2898 AD news regarding its US release date. Though it has been assured that the film will receive a global distribution, the only Kalki 2898 AD release date is for India, appearing in theaters there on January 12th, 2024. It's quite possible that Kalki 2898 AD's international release date will be not long after, so audiences should expect the film to hit theaters sometime in 2024, hopefully, sooner rather than later.

Kalki 2898 AD was confirmed under the working title Project K back in February 2020. Kalki 2898 AD has now unseated RRR as the most expensive Indian film in cinema history, with a budget of around $75 million (via Polygon). The hyped-up film RRR laid the groundwork for changing American perception of Indian cinema, garnering acclaim from critics and audiences alike, and it seems that Kalki 2898 AD will continue to carry the torch.

Kalki 2898 AD Cast

Kalki 2898 AD news reports a star-studded cast for the upcoming sci-fi epic, full of notable Indian celebrities. While many of these characters haven't had names revealed, the Kalki 2898 AD cast does see Prabhas (Baahubali: The Beginning) in the lead role of Vishnu's final incarnation Kalki. The Indian saga also stars Deepika Padukone (xXx: Return of Xander Cage), Amitabh Bachchan (Black), Kamal Haasan (Hey Ram) as the antagonist, Disha Patani (Malang), and Pasupathy (Sarpatta Barambarai). In addition, stars Mahesh Babu (Dookudu), Suriya (24), and Dulquer Salmaan (Sita Ramam) are making cameos. Kalki 2898 AD was written and directed by Nag Ashwin and was shot in Hindi and Telugu.

The Kalki 2898 AD Story

There isn't a ton of Kalki 2898 AD news regarding the specifics of the story, however, there's a lot that can be gleaned from the trailer and some information was given at the 2023 SDCC. The Kalki 2898 AD story is set in an oppressive dystopian future. As a yet unnamed darkness begins to threaten humanity (Haasan), the Hindu god Vishnu takes on his final incarnation as Kalki (Prabhas) in an epic battle of good versus evil.

Other Kalki 2898 AD news saw Ashwin speaking to The Hollywood Reporter (via Twitter) during the SDCC, describing the film's title and Kalki's role in the Kalki 2898 AD story. Ashwin compared the story to what most religions refer to as a "second coming," aka an apocalyptic event in which a God or gods return to Earth to save humanity. Ashwin stated, "Kalki is one of the words given to the second coming to the avatar of Vishnu in one of our lores. Kalki is the person equivalent to what other religions have in the second coming."

The Kalki 2898 AD Trailer

The Kalki 2898 AD trailer easily showcases why it's the most expensive Indian film in cinema history, featuring outstanding visual and special effects against the backdrop of an immersive dystopian world. Kalki 2898 AD news came in hot and heavy after the movie's trailer was released at the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con, and while it doesn't reveal the nitty-gritty of Ashwin's epic tale, it does give audiences a taste of the dangerous and duplicitous world that Kalki 2898 AD's protagonists find themselves in. Teasing a heroic saga leading up to a classic good-vs-evil battle, the Kalki 2898 AD trailer is one of the most impressive in Indian cinema to date.

The Kalki 2898 AD trailer begins with harrowing visions of a dark and oppressive future, filled with resource depletion, militaristic control, and death. First looks of Deepika Padukone's character and Kamal Haasan's villain are shown in succession as the words "When the world is taken over by darkness, a force rises," flash across the screen. At this point, Kalki (Prabhas) makes his grand heroic entrance, and his sudden appearance doesn't disappoint. What ensues is various flashes of futuristic fight scenes and high-octane action sequences, as the battle for humanity is on in Kalki 2898 AD.