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The MonsterVerse, sometimes called the Legendary era or Legendary series by the fans, is a series of giant monster films featuring Godzilla and King Kong produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. The MonsterVerse began in 2014 with Godzilla and was followed by Kong: Skull Island in 2017, and continued with Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 2019, and Godzilla vs. Kong in 2021. One more films, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, are planned for release in 2024 respectively.

Development[]

Writer Max Borenstein stated that the MonsterVerse did not begin as a franchise but as an American reboot of Godzilla. Borenstein credits Legendary Entertainment's founder and then CEO Thomas Tull as the one responsible for the MonsterVerse, having acquired the rights to Godzilla and negotiated the complicated rights to King Kong. Tull had offered Borenstein the opportunity to write the first draft for Kong: Skull Island, with the goal to establish Kong in the same universe as Legendary's Godzilla film. Tull's vision was for the films to one day led to Godzilla vs. Kong.

Legendary confirmed at the July 2014 San Diego Comic-Con International that it had acquired the licensing rights to Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah from Toho Co., Ltd. and revealed concept footage with the closing title cards reading "Conflict: inevitable. Let them fight". In September 2015, Legendary announced that the film Kong: Skull Island would not be developed with Universal Studios. Instead, it would be developed with Warner Bros., which sparked media speculation that Godzilla and Kong would appear in a film together.

In October 2015, Legendary announced plans to unite Godzilla and Kong in a film titled Godzilla vs. Kong, set for a 2020 release date. Legendary planned to create a shared cinematic franchise "centered around Monarch" (the secret government agency which debuted in 2014's Godzilla) and that "brings together Godzilla and Legendary’s King Kong in an ecosystem of other giant super-species, both classic and new". Later in October, it was announced that Kong: Skull Island would have references to Monarch.

In May 2016, Warner Bros. announced that Godzilla vs. Kong would be released on May 29, 2020, later pushed back to May 21, 2021, and that Godzilla: King of the Monsters would be pushed back from its original June 8, 2018 release date to March 22, 2019, however, the film was later pushed back again to May 31, 2019. In October 2016, Legendary announced that Godzilla: King of the Monsters would be filmed at its parent company Wanda's Oriental Movie Metropolis facility in Qingdao, China, along with Pacific Rim: Uprising. That same month, it was revealed that Legendary was planning a writers room to create their Godzilla–Kong cinematic universe, with Alex Garcia overseeing the project for Legendary.

In January 2017, Thomas Tull, founder of Legendary, resigned from the company but would remain as producer for the Godzilla–Kong series, which was revealed as the "MonsterVerse". In March 2017, Legendary assembled a writers room led by Terry Rossio to develop the story for Godzilla vs. Kong.

Legendary's license to Godzilla expired in 2020. However, Toho announced in July 2022 that Godzilla would be featured in a sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong. In January 2022, Legendary announced plans for a live-action TV series centered on Godzilla and other Titans.

Films[]

Film U.S. release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Story by Producer(s)
Godzilla May 16, 2014 Gareth Edwards Max Borenstein David Callaham Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Mary Parent and Brian Rogers
Kong: Skull Island March 10, 2017 Jordan Vogt-Roberts Dan Gilroy, Max Borenstein and Derek Connolly John Gatins Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Mary Parent and Alex Garcia
Godzilla: King of the Monsters May 31, 2019 Michael Dougherty Michael Dougherty and Zach Shields Max Borenstein, Michael Dougherty and Zach Shields Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Mary Parent, Alex Garcia and Brian Rogers
Godzilla vs. Kong March 31, 2021 Adam Wingard Eric Pearson and Max Borenstein Terry Rossio, Michael Dougherty and Zach Shields Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Brian Rogers, Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, and Eric McLeod[1]
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire March 29, 2024 Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, and Jeremy Slater[2] Terry Rossio, Adam Wingard, and Simon Barrett[2]

Godzilla (2014)[]

Main article: Godzilla (2014 film)

The film retells Godzilla's origins in contemporary times and is set 15 years after a nuclear meltdown in Japan which subsequently awakens two giant parasitic creatures, known as "MUTOs", who ravage the countryside in order to reproduce but in doing so, awaken a much larger, more destructive, ancient alpha predator, known as "Godzilla", whose existence has been kept secret by the U.S. government since 1954. The film introduces Godzilla, the MUTOs, and the Monarch organization to the MonsterVerse.

In 2004, director Yoshimitsu Banno acquired permission from Toho to produce a short IMAX Godzilla film which was in development for several years until the project was eventually turned over to Legendary Pictures. In March 2010, Legendary announced to have acquired to rights to Godzilla for a feature film reboot. In January 2011, Gareth Edwards was announced as the director for the film. The film was co-produced with Warner Bros. Pictures with filming completed in 2013 in Canada and the United States for release in 2014. Godzilla was released on May 16, 2014 to positive reviews from critics and was a box office success, grossing $200 million domestically and $529 million worldwide against its $160 million budget.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)[]

Main article: Kong: Skull Island

The film is set in 1973 and follows a team of scientists and Vietnam War soldiers who travel to an uncharted island in the Pacific and encounter terrifying creatures and the mighty Kong. The film introduces King Kong, Mother Longlegs, Sker Buffalos, Mire Squid, Leafwing, Psychovulture, Spore Mantis, Ramarak, and the Skull Crawlers to the MonsterVerse and a post-credits scene introduces Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah to the MonsterVerse.

In July 2014 at the San Diego Comic-Con, Legendary announced a King Kong origin story, initially titled Skull Island, with a release date of November 4, 2016, and Universal Pictures distributing. In September 2014, Jordan Vogt-Roberts was announced as the film's director. In September 2015, Legendary moved development of the film from Universal Pictures to Warner Bros. to create an expanded cinematic universe. Principal photography began on October 19, 2015, in Hawaii and various locations around Vietnam. Kong: Skull Island was released on March 10, 2017 to positive reviews from critics and was a box office success, grossing $167 million domestically and $565 million worldwide against its $185 million budget.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)[]

Main article: Godzilla: King of the Monsters

As Monarch struggles to deal with humanity's survival, three new monsters named Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah rise to combat Godzilla for supremacy.

Prior to announcing a shared cinematic universe between Godzilla and King Kong, Legendary originally intended to produce a trilogy with Gareth Edwards attached to direct the sequels, however, Edwards left the sequel in May 2016 to work on smaller scale projects. In January 2017, Michael Dougherty was announced as the director and co-writer for the film. Principal photography began on June 19, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. The film is scheduled to be released on March 22, 2019 in 2D, 3D, and select IMAX worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, except in Japan where the film will be distributed by Toho.

Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)[]

Main article: Godzilla vs. Kong

Legendary first announced the film in October 2015 when it also announced its plans for a shared cinematic franchise featuring Godzilla and King Kong. In May 2016, Warner Bros. announced that the film would be released on May 29, 2020. In March 2017, Legendary assembled a writers room to develop the story for Godzilla vs. Kong. In May 2017, Warner Bros. bumped the film's original release date to a week early, from May 29 to May 22, for a Memorial Day weekend release. That same month, Adam Wingard was announced as the director for Godzilla vs. Kong. However, the film would eventually be pushed do to the COVID-19 pandemic and would eventually be situated on March 31, 2021 after it was moved around the schedule several times.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)[]

Main article: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

In March 2022, it was announced that a sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong is scheduled to commence filming later in the year in Gold Coast, Queensland and other locations in South East Queensland. In May 2022, it was announced that Wingard would return to direct and that Dan Stevens had been cast in the lead. Wingard and Stevens had previously worked together on The Guest. On May 19, 2022, Production Weekly reported that the sequel's working title is Origins. In August 2022, Collider reported that Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry and Kaylee Hottle would reprise their roles from Godzilla vs. Kong while Fala Chen, Alex Ferns and Rachel House would join the cast as well. Collider also revealed that Terry Rossio returned to write the script with Jeremy Slater and Simon Barrett. On August 25, Tom Holkenborg was set to return to compose the score for the film, after previously doing so for Godzilla vs. Kong. On August 24, 2023, the film was rescheduled to April 12, 2024, due to the ongoing Hollywood labor disputes. On January 10, 2024, the film was moved up to March 29, due to post strike production shifts.

Television[]

Skull Island (2023-present)[]

Main article: Skull Island (TV series)

In January 2021, an anime-styled animated series titled Skull Island was announced. The series centers around the adventures of shipwrecked characters, trying to escape from the titular island which is home to various prehistoric monsters. The project was written by Brian Duffield, who also serves as co-executive producer with Jacob Robinson. The series is a joint-venture production between Legendary Television, Tractor Pants Productions, Powerhouse Animation Studios, and Netflix Animation. In May 2023, Legendary announced the series' June 22, 2023 release date on Netflix, along with a teaser trailer, poster, and voice cast.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023-present)[]

Main article: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

In January 2022, Legendary announced that Apple TV+ had ordered an untitled live-action series featuring Godzilla and other Titans, with Chris Black serving as showrunner. Black and Matt Fraction will serve as co-creators and executive producers. The series will focus on "one family’s journey to uncover its buried secrets and a legacy linking them to the secret organization known as Monarch." Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell, Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita will serve as additional executive producers.

Following the success of Godzilla vs. Kong, discussions commenced on ways that the MonsterVerse could be expanded beyond feature films. Legendary proposed a live-action series, and amongst the potential buyers, Apple TV+ expressed immediate interest and negotiated a deal to begin development. The project will be a joint-venture production between Legendary Television, Safehouse Pictures, Toho Co. Ltd., and Apple TV+ Original Series.

In June 2022, Legendary announced that Anna Sawai, Ren Watabe, Kiersey Clemons, Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski had been cast in the series. Matt Shakman will direct the first two episodes and also serve as executive producer. In July 2022, Kurt Russell and his son Wyatt Russell were added to the cast. The series would span 10 episodes and is slated to be released sometime during late 2023.

Other Media[]

In addition to the films, Legendary and Warner Bros. have licensed additional MonsterVerse-related media, including books and video games.

Books[]

  • Godzilla: Awakening - Graphic novel prequel to Godzilla (2014)
  • Godzilla: The Official Novelization - Novelization of Godzilla (2014)
  • Godzilla: The Art of Destruction - Art book for Godzilla (2014)
  • Godzilla: With Light and Sound! - Sticker book for Godzilla (2014), includes a Godzilla toy
  • Skull Island: The Birth of Kong - Graphic novel prequel to Kong: Skull Island
  • Kong: Skull Island - The Official Movie Novelization - Novelization of Kong: Skull Island
  • The Art of Kong: Skull Island - Art book for Kong: Skull Island

Video Games[]

  • Godzilla: Smash3
  • Godzilla: Strike Zone
  • Godzilla: Crisis Defense
  • Godzilla (PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 4) - Includes the Legendary Godzilla as a playable character
  • Godzilla: Kaiju Collection - Includes the Legendary Godzilla

Gallery[]

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Videos[]

Trivia[]

  • The MonsterVerse is the first series of live-action Godzilla films since the Heisei era in which all of the films take place in a single related continuity.
  • All of the films in the MonsterVerse are set to be distributed by Warner Bros. (except in Japan), despite Legendary's current distribution partner being Universal Pictures. This is because Toho's deal with Legendary to grant them the Godzilla license was made exclusively with it and Warner Bros.
  • This is the first American-produced Godzilla continuity that features other trademarked Toho monsters other than Godzilla and King Kong themselves, with Mothra, King Ghidorah, and Rodan appearing in Godzilla: King of the Monsters. This is also the first time all four monsters have starred in a movie together since the Showa era film, Destroy All Monsters.
    • Mechagodzilla's existence was hinted at in the credits of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and it makes its debut in Godzilla vs. Kong; thereby, this completes Toho's "Big Five" roster for the MonsterVerse.
  • The "M"-shaped logo used for the MonsterVerse looks nearly identical to the Monarch logo.
  • The first two Godzilla films interestingly share the theme of Godzilla rising to face opposing Titans that threaten the planet and assert his dominance with a fractured family being caught in the middle of the chaos trying to survive and reunite.
  • This is the first in a long time that new monsters appeared on screen since the MUTO, the Skull Island flora/fauna, the Skullcrawlers, Behemoth, Scylla, Methuselah, and the Warbats.
  • Some of the cast (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John C. Reilly, Corey Hawkins, Tom Hiddleston, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Ramos, Rebecca Hall, and Brian Tyree Henry) in each film have also appeared in the "Marvel Cinematic Universe".
    • Kurt Russell is set starred in the new MonsterVerse series.
    • Godzilla and Godzilla: King of the Monsters are the only films in the series not to feature actors who had already appeared in the MCU.

References[]

  1. Parlevliet, Mirko (August 25, 2022). "Godzilla vs Kong Sequel Starts Filming".
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Origins". Writers Guild of America West.

External Links[]

v - e - d
MonsterVerse current logo
Media
Films: Godzilla | Kong: Skull Island | Godzilla: King of the Monsters | Godzilla vs. Kong | Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Television: Skull Island (Netflix) | Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Apple TV+)
Soundtracks: Godzilla (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Kong: Skull Island (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Godzilla vs. Kong (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Books: Godzilla: The Art of Destruction | Godzilla – The Official Movie Novelization | Kong: Skull Island – The Official Movie Novelization | The Art and Making of Kong: Skull Island | Godzilla: King of the Monsters – The Official Movie Novelization | The Art of Godzilla: King of the Monsters | Kong and Me | Godzilla vs. Kong: The Official Movie Novelization | Godzilla vs. Kong: Sometimes Friends Fight (But They Always Make Up) | Godzilla vs. Kong: The Art of the Ultimate Battle Royale
Comics: Godzilla: Awakening | Skull Island: The Birth of Kong (Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4) | Skull Island: The Birth of Kong | Godzilla: Aftershock | Kingdom Kong | Godzilla Dominion | MonsterVerse Titanthology Vol. 1
Video Games: Godzilla: Crisis Defense | Godzilla: Strike Zone | Godzilla: Smash 3 | Kong: Skull Island Cinematic Adventure

Characters
Monsters: Godzilla | King Kong | King Ghidorah | Rodan | MUTO | Dagon | Underwater panther | Aspidochelone | Cetus | Ichthyosaur | Mosasaurus | Stegosaurus | Archaeopteryx | Skullcrawler | Mother Longlegs | Spore Mantis | Sker Buffalo | Mire Squid | Leafwing | Kong's father | Kong's mother | Snarehunter | Mothra | Methuselah | Scylla | Behemoth | Abaddon | Amhuluk | Baphomet | Leviathan | Yamata no Orochi | Quetzalcoatl | Sekhmet | Tiamat | Typhon | Giant spider | Anguirus | Pteranodon | Mechagodzilla | Doug | Warbat | Hellhawk | Rock Critter | Skeleton of a dead creature | Hollow Earth | Kraken | Trapdoor Crab | Rock Bug | Aloe turtle | Dog | Croc Monster | Grass Hedgehog | Hawk Monster | Dodo Bird | Vine snake | Giant Ant | Killer Chameleon | Dog's father | Giant scorpion | Nightboy | Skull Island fish | Giant centipede

Humans:
Godzilla (2014): Ford Brody | Ishiro Serizawa | Elle Brody | Vivienne Graham | William Stenz | Joe Brody | Sandra Brody | Sam Brody
Kong: Skull Island: James Conrad | Preston Packard | Mason Weaver | Hank Marlow | Bill Randa | Houston Brooks | Victor Nieves | Lin San | Jack Chapman | Glenn Mills | Earl Cole | Reg Slivko | Joe Reles | Al Willis | Steve Gibson | Gunpei Ikari | Mercenaries
Godzilla: King of the Monsters: Mark Russell | Emma Russell | Madison Russell | Ilene Chen | Rick Stanton | Alan Jonah | Sam Coleman | Diane Foster | Jackson Barnes | Andrew Russell
Godzilla vs. Kong: Nathan Lind | Ilene Andrews | Bernie Hayes | Ren Serizawa | Maia Simmons | Josh Valentine | Walter Simmons | Jia | Admiral Wilcox | Jay Wayne | Horace | Ben | Hayworth
Skull Island: Annie | Mike | Charlie | Cap | Hiro | Irene | Sam | Boomer | Wells | Island Girl | Mercs | Islander
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters: Lee Shaw | Cate Randa | May | Kentaro | Keiko | Tim | Duvall
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire:
Printed Media: Eiji Serizawa | Aaron Brooks

Locations
Skull Island
Transports/Vehicles
Objects/Weapons/Design
Monarch | GareGoji | DougheGoji
Brands
Warner Bros. (Warner Bros. Discovery) (licensee) | Legendary Entertainment (owner) | Toho (Godzilla films) | RKO Pictures (King Kong) | Netflix | Powerhouse Animation Studios | Apple TV+ |
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