Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (article code)

{{Infobox television
|image=Monarch legacy of monsters monsterverse 2023 poster2.jpg
|title=Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
|genre=Action<br>Adventure<br>Science fiction<br>Monster
|format=Live-action hybrid series
|creator=Chris Black
|director=
|writer=
|creative=
|starring=Kurt Russell<br>Wyatt Russell<br>Anna Sawai<br>Kiersey Clemons<br>Ren Watabe<br>Mari Yamamoto<br>Anders Holm<br>Joe Tippett<br>Elisa Lasowski
|voices=
|composer=Leopold Ross
|opentheme=
|theme_composer=
|seasons=1
|episodes=10
|list_episodes= 
|executive=Chris Black<br>Matt Fraction<br>Matt Shakman<br>Joby Harold<br>Tory Tunnell<br>Andy Goddard<br>Brad Van Arragon<br>Andrew Colville<br>Hiro Matsuoka<br>Takemasa Arita
|producer=
|runtime=60 minutes
|company=Legendary Television<br>Safehouse Pictures<br>Toho Co., Ltd (copyright holder to ''Godzilla'' related properties)
|distributor=
|channel=[[Apple TV+]]
|picture=
|audio=
|original_release=
|premiere=[[November 17]], [[2023]]
|ended=present
|website= 
|imdb_id= 
}}
'''''Monarch: Legacy of Monsters''''' is an upcoming American television series created by Chris Black and developed by Black and Matt Fraction for the streaming service Apple TV+, based on Godzilla by Toho Co., Ltd. Produced by Legendary Television, Safehouse Pictures and Toho Co., Ltd, it is the sixth installment and the second television series in the MonsterVerse franchise. The series follows members of the organization Monarch as they encounter Godzilla and other monsters, known as "Titans", over the span of a half century, following the events of ''Godzilla'' (2014). Black serves as showrunner.

The series stars Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski. ''Monarch: Legacy of Monsters'' is scheduled to premiere on Apple TV+ on November 17, 2023.
==Premise==
Following the epic battle between Godzilla and the MUTOs that leveled San Francisco and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, two siblings, following in their father's footsteps, uncover their family's connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw, taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows. The dramatic saga — spanning three generations — reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.
==Cast==
* Kurt Russell as Lee Shaw
** Wyatt Russell as young Lee Shaw
* Anna Sawai as Cate Randa: A former schoolteacher and a G-Day survivor who travels to Japan to settle family affairs but instead uncovers a family secret. Tired of running from her problems, she is determined to find answers.
* Kiersey Clemons as May: An American ex-pat with a roguish exterior that she uses to protect herself as well as others. Whether it be deciphering a code or finding the loophole, she is always three steps ahead of everyone around her.
* Ren Watabe as Kentaro: An intelligent, creative, and curious young man who has yet to find his own path. He will embark on a quest to learn more about his revered yet mysterious father and discover his own talents in the process.
* Mari Yamamoto as Keiko
* Anders Holm as Bill Randa: A researcher at Monarch.
** John Goodman as an older Randa, reprising his role from ''Kong: Skull Island'' (2017).
* Joe Tippett as Tim: An office drone who dreams of secret agent adventure. His overconfidence gets him in trouble in the field, but he is determined not to fail his organization.
* Elisa Lasowski as Duvall: An expert operative with unwavering confidence in herself and her skills. She also possesses a wry sense of humor, which she uses to guide her less field-oriented colleague.
* Christopher Heyerdahl
==Episodes==
Mairzee Almas, Andy Goddard, Julian Holmes, and Hiromi Kamata direct episodes.
== Production ==
=== Development ===
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 investors, Apple TV+ expressed immediate interest and negotiated a deal and green-lit the series in January 2022. The project will be a joint-venture production between Legendary Television, Safehouse Pictures and Toho. Chris Black will serve as showrunner.

In May, Matt Shakman was hired to direct the first two episodes in addition to executive producing. In addition to Black and Matt Fraction, writers for the series include Andrew Colville, Milla Bell-Hart, Amanda Overton, Karl Taro Greenfeld, Mariko Tamaki, and Al Letson.
=== Casting ===
In June 2022, Anna Sawai, Ren Watabe, Kiersey Clemons, Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski were cast in the series. In July, Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell were added to the cast, with Mari Yamamoto joining in August. In September, Anders Holm joined the cast while also revealing the show's title. In September 2023, with the release of the teaser trailer, John Goodman was revealed to be reprising his role from ''Kong: Skull Island'' (2017) as William "Bill" Randa.
=== Filming ===
In July 2022, it was revealed that principal photography had commenced in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Two weeks of filming occurred in Japan in August. The series is shot with 3D cameras in Apple’s Spatial Video Format for the Apple Vision Pro.
=== Music ===
In October 2023, Leopold Ross was confirmed to be composing the score for the series.
== Marketing ==
In August 2023, Apple released first look images of the series, now officially titled ''Monarch: Legacy of Monsters''. The teaser for the series was released on September 8, 2023, along with more images.
== Release ==
''Monarch: Legacy of Monsters'' is scheduled to premiere in November 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
== Reception ==
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 92% based on 13 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 63 out of 100, based on 5 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Monarch Legacy of Monsters banner.jpg
Monarch legacy of monsters monsterverse 2023 poster.jpg
Monarch Legacy of Monsters banner2.jpg
Monarch legacy of monsters monsterverse 2023 poster2.jpg
Monarch Legacy of Monsters english logo 2023.png
</gallery>
==Trivia==
*''Monarch: Legacy of Monsters'' is the first Godzilla television series to not feature Godzilla's name in its title.
*This will be the first live action Godzilla television series in over two decades, following Godzilla TV (1999-2000). Godziban (2019-2023), while live action, is not televised.
**It will also be the first live action Godzilla TV series to be story-driven since ''Godzilla Island'' (1997-1998) 26 years prior, and the first American ''Godzilla'' series of any kind since ''Godzilla: The Series'' (1998-2000) 25 years prior.
*''Monarch: Legacy of Monsters'' is the first major installment in the MonsterVerse to feature Godzilla's GareGoji design since ''Godzilla'' (2014), outside of stock footage. However, a poster for the series shows Godzilla with a noticeably different dorsal fin design.
*A Monarch insider named Shaw previously appeared in the 2014 MonsterVerse graphic novel ''Godzilla: Awakening''. It is not yet clear whether Lee Shaw is intended to be the same character.
*This is the second television series in the ''[[MonsterVerse]]'' to be distributed by another television studio besides [[Warner Bros.]] since [[2014]] film ''[[Godzilla (2014 film)|Godzilla]]'' (which was distributed by [[Warner Bros.]] and [[Toho]]), it's the only television series in the ''[[MonsterVerse]]'' to be released by [[Apple TV+]], although [[Warner Bros.]] still owns the rights for the live-action ''[[MonsterVerse]]'' films alongside [[Legendary Entertainment]].
**In addition to that, this series marks [[Leopold Ross]]' second score in the ''[[MonsterVerse]]'' franchise, after [[2010]] [[Warner Bros.]]' film ''[[The Book of Eli]]'' (internationally distributed by Summit Entertainment).
**This is also marks the Safehouse Pictures' second production in the ''[[MonsterVerse]]'' franchise, since ''[[King Arthur: Legend of the Sword]]'' (2017).
***Likewise, it is the another Netflix originals series to be produced by a Warner Bros. label after ''Little Voice'' (2020), ''Becoming You'' (2020), ''Ted Lasso'' (2020-2023), ''Lisey's Story'' (2021) and ''Shrinking'' (2023-present)
****Thus, it is also the first live-action television series to be made by Apple TV+ instead of Warner Bros. Television. It was moved from Warner Bros. Television to Apple TV+ sometime during distribution for unknown reasons.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External Links==
*{{WP|Monarch: Legacy of Monsters}}
*[https://tv.apple.com/us/show/monarch-legacy-of-monsters/umc.cmc.62l8x0ixrhyq3yaqa5y8yo7ew Official website]
*{{IMDb title|17220216}}
{{MonsterVerse}}
{{Apple TV+ originals}}
[[Category:Articles with Wikipedia content]]
[[Category:Non-Warner]]
[[Category:2020s television series]]
[[Category:Legendary Entertainment]]
[[Category:Live-action television series]]
[[Category:Online Shows]]
[[Category:Apple TV+]]
[[Category:TV-14 rated shows]]
[[Category:MonsterVerse]]