The much-anticipated NTR Jr. project with director Prashanth Neel will share its first glimpse on May 20, the makers announced.
Tentatively titled "Dragon" (unofficial), it's Neel's next after "Salaar - Part 1". The actor also shared that the official release date has been pushed to June 11, 2027, instead of the initially announced June 2026 window. A first look glimpse has been scheduled for May 20, 2026.
The project, bankrolled by Mythri Movie Makers and NTR Arts, comes with lofty expectations considering Neel's brand value. The "KGF" director is mounting the film on a giant scale, and there have been multiple reports of reshoots and delays in production. The additional year gives the team enough time to make whatever alterations they need to get it in full shape.
Recently, Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas, who was attached to the project, officially confirmed his exit, citing scheduling conflicts. During a promotional event for his Malayalam film "Pallichattambi" in Hyderabad, the actor explained that the production style in Telugu cinema, which often takes nearly a year for a single project, does not align with his preference for finishing films in a single schedule (the standard in the Malayalam industry). He added that committing to a long-duration Telugu project would affect the four to five of his planned Malayalam films.
Following this, some reports said that Tovino had already shot some scenes for the film, which will now likely need to be scrapped and reshot with a replacement. There has been speculation regarding actors like Shahid Kapoor or Gopichand stepping into the role, but nothing is officially confirmed as of yet.
"Dragon" has Ravi Basrur ("KGF", "Salaar") as music composer, with Bhuvan Gowda ("KGF", "Salaar") as director of photography, and Pranav Sri Prasad as editor.