Get ready for a rematch of gargantuan proportions.
It looks like it’s time to evacuate the major cities again because the King of the Monsters and the Eighth Wonder of the World are set to reunite for the next chapter of the MonsterVerse with Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire. Legendary’s cinematic universe based on the legendary Toho monster films saw great success when the 2014 Godzilla film, functioning as a stellar western reboot that featured a jaw-dropping sense of scale and plenty of borderline apocalyptic monster fights. Soon after Godzilla defeated the fearsome MUTOs, audiences would also discover that Godzilla is not the only monster in the universe when Godzilla: King of the Monsters unleashed a slew of new threats onto the Earth. Though Godzilla very nearly meets his end at the claws of the deadly King Ghidorah, the mutated lizard king ultimately comes out on top takes claims the title of king for himself.
However, long before Godzilla became the ultimate monster in the world, there was another monster king who staked his claim on a secluded land called Skull Island. We see King Kong return to the filmmaking industry in a big way with Kong: Skull Island, showcasing the giant ape fighting off intruders in his sacred homeland. Decades later, Kong and Godzilla would come face to face in the appropriately titled Godzilla vs. Kong, and while they start out as ancient enemies, the two titans eventually team up to defeat the rogue Mecha-Godzilla. Now, Godzilla and Kong are set to reunite three years later with Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire. The next chapter of the MonsterVerse is bound to be an epic collection of chaos and mayhem, but the real question is whether the two titular monsters will once again be enemies or if they’ll form a tepid alliance to take on a new threat. To learn more about the anticipated sequel’s cast, trailer, release date, and more, here is everything we know so far about Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire.
When Is the Release Date of ‘Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire’?
The massive creatures of the MonsterVerse will be making their enormous return to the big screen when Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire releases on April 12, 2024. The film was originally scheduled to release on Friday, March 15, 2024, but has since been delayed, presumably due to the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Where Can You Watch ‘Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire’?
Every fan of Godzilla and King Kong will tell you that these cinema icons are at their best when they’re on the big screen. Thankfully, the announcement trailer for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire makes it abundantly clear that the sequel will be premiering exclusively in theaters. This is exciting news for fans, given that the previous film, Godzilla vs. Kong, couldn’t achieve a proper theatrical release due to the ongoing global pandemic, and ultimately premiered day-and-date on HBO Max along with the rest of Warner Bros’ 2021 film slate. That being said the previous film still made a healthy sum in theaters and became the first major hit at the box office during the pandemic grossing $470 million at the worldwide box office. The New Empire will be bringing the franchise back to theaters, it is more than possible that we’ll see the film later come to the newly rebranded Max once its theatrical run concludes.
Is There a Trailer for ‘Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire’?
We got our first look at what’s in store for Godzilla and Kong’s next big battle in the form of a title reveal trailer, which debuted the epic title of Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire. The just over thirty-second-long trailer sees an ape titan sitting on a sinister throne, surrounded by all manner of bones and detritus. At the edge of this monstrous graveyard are two massive skulls that are clearly supposed to be the heads of Godzilla and Kong. It seems reasonable to assume that the ape sitting on the throne is Kong, but the creature’s appearance seems quite a bit skinnier than the titular protagonist, and there is a rather villainous feel to him. After showing off the film’s title card, the title reveal trailer for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire offers an extreme close-up of this mysterious blue-eyed villain before revealing that the film will be arriving in 2024 exclusively in theaters.
Who Stars in ‘Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire’?
Several cast members from Godzilla vs. Kong will be returning for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire. This includes Rebecca Hall as monster expert Dr. Ilene Andrews, Brian Tyree Henry as conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes, and Kaylee Hottle as Kong’s young human companion Jia. Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens will also be joining the cast in a yet-to-be-revealed leading role. The rest of the cast is rounded out by Rachel House (Thor: Ragnarok), Alex Ferns (The Batman), Fala Chen (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), and Mercy Cornwall (Dive Club). There has been no word whether Godzilla vs. Kong stars Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Julian Dennison, and Kyle Chandler will be returning, but it seems safe to assume that they’ll be sitting this one out.
What Is ‘Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire’ About?
We know an engaging plot is the last thing fans of these movies are thinking of when they see a Godzilla and King Kong movie. Still, the official plot synopsis for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire reads as follows:
Notes:This latest entry in the Monsterverse franchise follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own. The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.
The synopsis doesn’t explicitly reveal which iconic foe Godzilla and Kong will be facing, but it’s certainly exciting that we’ll learn more about the origins of these larger-than-life creatures and perhaps even return to Skull Island.
Who Is Making ‘Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire’?
A few weeks after the release of Godzilla vs. Kong it was reported that the film’s director, Adam Wingard, would return to direct the next film in the MonsterVerse, making this the first time in the MonsterVerse franchise that a filmmaker has directed more than one project. This also marks a reunion of sorts between Adam Wingard and Dan Stevens, who also collaborated on the cult-favorite action-horror film, The Guest. The project’s writers’ room consisted of Simon Barett (You’re Next), Terry Rossio (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl), and Jeremy Slater (Moon Knight). Other members of the crew include composer Junkie XL (Mad Max: Fury Road), editor Josh Schaeffer (Pacific Rim: Uprising), and production designer Tom Hammock (X).
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