The MonsterVerse[1] is an American multimedia franchise and sharedfictional universe featuring Godzilla, King Kong, and other Toho monster characters. The franchise is produced by Legendary Pictures and co-produced and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The first installment was Godzilla (2014), a reboot[2] of the Godzilla franchise, which was followed by Kong: Skull Island (2017), a reboot[3] of the King Kong franchise, Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), and Godzilla vs. Kong (2021). The franchise received a generally positive reception and has been commercially successful with a combined gross of $1.950 billion worldwide.
Original workGodzilla (2014)OwnerLegendary Pictures
Warner Bros. PicturesYears2014–presentPrint publicationsBook(s)List of booksComicsList of comicsFilms and televisionFilm(s)
Television series
GamesVideo game(s)List of video gamesAudioSoundtrack(s)List of soundtracksMiscellaneousBased on
The franchise will continue with two television series and an untitled Godzilla vs. Kong sequel concurrently in development.
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 lead to Godzilla vs. Kong.[4]
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”.[5] 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.[6][7]
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”.[8] Later in October, it was announced that Kong: Skull Island would have references to Monarch.[9]
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,[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]
In early 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”.[13] In March 2017, Legendary assembled a writers room led by Terry Rossio to develop the story for Godzilla vs. Kong.[14]
Legendary’s license to Godzilla expired in 2020.[15]
Films
FilmRelease dateDirectorScreenwriter(s)Story byProducersGodzillaMay 16, 2014Gareth EdwardsMax BorensteinDavid CallahamThomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Mary Parent and Brian RogersKong: Skull IslandMarch 10, 2017Jordan Vogt-RobertsDan Gilroy, Max Borenstein and Derek ConnollyJohn GatinsThomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Mary Parent and Alex GarciaGodzilla: King of the MonstersMay 31, 2019Michael DoughertyMichael Dougherty and Zach ShieldsMax Borenstein, Michael Dougherty and Zach ShieldsThomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Mary Parent, Alex Garcia and Brian RogersGodzilla vs. KongMarch 24, 2021Adam WingardEric Pearson and Max BorensteinTerry Rossio, Michael Dougherty and Zach ShieldsThomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Brian Rogers, Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, and Eric McLeod[16]Untitled Godzilla vs. Kong sequelMarch 15, 2024Terry Rossio, Jeremy Slater and Simon Barrett[16]
GodzillaEdit
Main article: Godzilla (2014 film)
The film reimagines Godzilla’s origins in contemporary times and is set 15 years after a nuclear meltdown in Japan which was caused by giant parasitic creatures, known as “MUTOs“. As two MUTOs ravage the countryside in order to reproduce, they awaken a larger 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.[17][18] In March 2010, Legendary announced to have acquired the rights to Godzilla for a feature film reboot.[19] In January 2011, Gareth Edwards was announced as the director for the film.[20] The film was co-produced with Warner Bros. Pictures with filming completed in 2013 in Canada and the United States for release in 2014.[21] Godzilla was released on May 16, 2014, to positive reviews,[22][23] and was a box office success, grossing $529 million worldwide against a budget of $160 million.[24]
Kong: Skull IslandEdit
Main article: Kong: Skull Island
In the film, set in 1973, a team of scientists and Vietnam War soldiers travel to an uncharted island in the Pacific and encounter terrifying creatures and the mighty Kong. The film introduces Kong, the Mother Longlegs,[25] the Sker Buffalo,[25] the Mire Squid,[25] the Leafwing,[25] the Psychovulture,[25] the Spore Mantis,[25] the Skull Devil,[26] and the Skullcrawlers to the MonsterVerse and a post-credits scene introduces Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah to the MonsterVerse.[27] The Skull Devil was originally trademarked as “Ramarak the Skullcrawler” until it was abandoned in September 2017.[28]
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.[29] In September 2014, Jordan Vogt-Roberts was announced as the film’s director.[30] In September 2015, Legendary moved development of the film from Universal Pictures to Warner Bros. to create an expanded cinematic universe.[31] Principal photography began on October 19, 2015, in Hawaii and Vietnam. Kong: Skull Island was released on March 10, 2017, to positive reviews,[32][33] and was a box office success, grossing $566 million worldwide against a budget of $185 million.[34] The film received a nomination for Best Visual Effects at the 90th Academy Awards.[35]
Godzilla: King of the MonstersEdit
Main article: Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019 film)
In the film, humanity must rely on Godzilla and Mothra to defeat King Ghidorah and Rodan, the former having awakened other Titans to destroy the world. The film changes the monsters’ designation from “MUTOs” to “Titans”.[36] The film introduces Scylla, Methuselah, Behemoth, and the Queen MUTO to the MonsterVerse.[37][38] Off-screen, the film introduces Baphomet, Typhon, Mokele-Mbembe, Sargon, Tiamat, Abaddon, Leviathan, and Bunyip to the MonsterVerse.[37][39]
Prior to announcing a shared cinematic universe between Godzilla and Kong, Legendary originally intended to produce a Godzilla trilogy, with Gareth Edwards attached to direct all films.[40] However, Edwards left the sequel in May 2016 to work on smaller scale projects.[41] In January 2017, Michael Dougherty was announced as the director and co-writer for the film.[42] Principal photography began in June 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia and wrapped in September 2017.[43] The film was released on May 31, 2019, to mixed reviews,[a] and was a box office disappointment,[50][51][52] grossing $386 million worldwide against a budget between $170–200 million.[53][54]
Godzilla vs. Kong
Main article: Godzilla vs. Kong
In the film, Kong clashes with Godzilla as humans lure the ape into the Hollow Earth to retrieve a power source for a weapon to stop Godzilla’s mysterious rampages. The film introduces Mechagodzilla,[55] the Warbat,[56] and the Hellhawk[57] to the MonsterVerse.
The project was announced in October 2015 when Legendary announced plans for a shared cinematic universe between Godzilla and King Kong. The film’s writers room was assembled in March 2017 and Adam Wingard was announced as the director in May 2017. Principal photography began in November 2018 in Hawaii and Australia and concluded in April 2019. After being delayed from a November 2020 release date due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was theatrically released internationally on March 24, 2021,[58][59] and was released in the United States on March 31, 2021, where it was released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max.[60] The film received generally positive reviews and was a box office success, breaking pandemic records and grossing $470 million. It was also a streaming hit, becoming the most successful launch item in HBO Max’s history until it was overtaken by Mortal Kombat.[61][62]
Untitled Godzilla vs. Kong sequelEdit
Main article: Untitled Godzilla vs. Kong sequel
In the film, Godzilla and Kong reunite against an undiscovered threat hidden deep within the Earth that challenges the existence of humans and Titans.[63]
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.[64] In May 2022, it was announced that Wingard would return to direct and that Dan Stevens had been cast as the lead. Wingard and Stevens had previously worked together on The Guest.[65] The film is scheduled to be released on March 15, 2024 in IMAX.[66]
Television
SeriesSeasonEpisodesOriginally releasedNetworkShowrunner(s)StatusSkull Island1TBATBANetflixBrian Duffield & Jacob RobinsonIn developmentGodzilla and the Titans1TBATBAApple TV+Chris BlackFilming
Skull Island Edit
In January 2021, an anime-styled animated series titled Skull Island was announced to be in development. The series will center around the adventures of shipwrecked characters, trying to escape from the titular island which is home to various prehistoric monsters. The project will be written by Brian Duffield, who will also serve as co-executive producer with Jacob Robinson. The series will be a joint-venture production between Legendary Television, Tractor Pants Productions, Powerhouse Animation Studios, and Netflix Animation. The show will be released as a streaming exclusive on Netflix.[67]
Godzilla and the TitansEdit
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.[68][69]
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.[70] In July 2022, Kurt Russell and his son Wyatt Russell were added to the cast.[71]
See alsoEdit
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