Superstar Rajinikanth's 173rd movie was first officially announced in November 2025 with Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International as the production banner, and Sundar C as the director. However within a week, director Sundar C announced his exit from the project, and Raaj Kamal Films International has now come up with a new update in 2026. 

Thalaivar 173, as the film is temporarily known, will be directed by Cibi Chakaravarthi in his debut collaboration with the 75 year old Rajinikanth. Thalaivar 173 with Anirudh Ravichander for music, is also Kamal Haasan's debut production with Rajinikanth in the lead.

Thalaivar 173 is scheduled to release in January 2027, marking the Tamil holiday of Pongal. Thalaivar 173 comes with the tagline, "Every family has a hero", and the announcement poster hints of tailoring elements like the blades of fabric scissors which make the star logo on the poster, threads that spell out 'Thalaivar 173' on the poster, buttons, stitching needle and thread laid out on a denim material on the poster.

Besides these, passports, guns and bullets also make an appearance on the Thalaivar 173 announcement poster, hinting at an action saga set internationally.