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Tag: Godzilla vs. Kong

  • ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Sequel Working Title Teases Storyline

    ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Sequel Working Title Teases Storyline

    It’s not long ago that we learned that Adam Wingard was starting work on the upcoming sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong. Monsterverse was seemingly facing its end with the big clash between the two Eastern and Western Kaiju giants but surprised many, as it was the film to kick off the box office during the pandemic. Now, work has seemingly started and the film’s production title may be teasing what exactly the film will be about.

    @KDM_Monsters shared what seems to be the clapperboard for the upcoming Monsterverse entry, which includes the working title. It appears that it’s currently filming under the title “Origins” which raises some questions regarding what we can expect from the upcoming project. In a way, it does seem to imply that the next entry may either explore the origins of either Godzilla or Kong, especially which was already set up in the latest entry, or even act as a prequel.

    It should also be pointed out that it confirms that Ben Seresin is back as the film’s cinematographer, as he’s also worked on the previous entry of the Monsterverse. The Godzilla vs. Kong sequel will have a lot of heavy lifting to do, as it not only has to continue where the previous one left off but also potentially build up the future of this franchise; if there is one at all.

    With an Apple TV+ series on the horizon, there are many questions about what we can expect and with no clear announcement, if this sequel is about Kong or Godzilla, it does add some questions if it might move away from the big two in future entries. Here’s hoping that they may get the momentum they are looking for to give us a third entry in the Godzilla franchise.

    Source: Twitter

  • Untitled ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Sequel Eyeing 2024 Release

    Untitled ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Sequel Eyeing 2024 Release

    It looks like the next entry in the Monsterverse is eyeing a 2024 release, as while Warner Bros. was announcing the new release date for Dune: Part Two, which is only facing a slight delay, it seems that they also used the opportunity to confirm that an untitled Godzilla vs. Kong sequel is going to release in 2024 on March 15th. No further details are offered on what exactly the film is going to be about, especially as the fallout of the previous entry leaves the door open to explore Godzilla or Kong’s next storyline.

    While a personal hope is for more Godzilla films, there have been hints that the next project may focus on an adaptation of Son of Kong, which would hint at a new generation of monsters taking the spotlight. After Godzilla went on a rampage due to the existence of Mechagodzilla, we don’t know how the world has treated Titans. They also are still seemingly focused on the main duo rather than continuing to expand on the “Monster” aspect of the Monsterverse.

    It’s not the only expansion, as there is also an Apple TV+ spinoff currently in development. We’re still waiting for an official update on the project or where it is heading, but there have been hints that they may be eyeing Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell to join the production. WandaVision‘s Matt Shakman is already attached to direct the spinoff.

    Source: Variety

  • Dan Stevens set to Star in ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Sequel

    Dan Stevens set to Star in ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Sequel

    It has officially been announced that Dan Stevens is set to star in the upcoming sequel of 2021’s blockbuster film Godzilla vs. Kong. Director Adam Wingard is set to return to direct the follow-up project, marking a reunion between director and actor after working together on The Guest. The 2014 independent thriller gave Stevens and Wingard some of their strongest reviews and put both of them on the board as people who could play roles in more major franchises down the road. The Monsterverse sequel is one of the first major tentpole film roles for Stevens, who has generally been very selective in the roles he accepts. The actor most recently has portrayed John Dean, the Nixon-era White House Counsel, in the series Gaslit on Starz.

    The sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong continues Legendary’s financially successful Monsterverse franchise. The original film released in 2021 was the first film post-pandemic to earn over $100M at the box office domestically and ultimately grossed $468M globally. While minimal details are known about the new film, audiences should certainly anticipate a return of both iconically monstrous figures as they engage in another world-shattering war. Production led by Adam Wingard is set to commence in Australia later this summer. It will certainly be interesting to follow further developments for the Monsterverse as more from this film is announced.

    Godzilla vs. Kong 2 does not yet have a release date, but it is thought to hit theaters sometime in 2024.


    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Sequel Eyeing a Production Start Later This Year

    ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Sequel Eyeing a Production Start Later This Year

    Godzilla vs. Kong was the film to revive the box office after the pandemic kept the entire industry on its toes. At the same time, it even managed to revive the franchise that was facing a bit of a downward spiral in its box office performance. Luckily, its success not only led to Adam Wingard getting signed on for the next MonsterVerse entry but also led to Apple TV+ getting its hands on a spinoff series. After a long bout of silence, it looks like the sequel film is finally picking up the pace.

    It is currently eyeing a production start later this year and will return to Australia. Gold Coast and Southeast Queensland will once again become the home for the latest MonsterVerse film, making it the third time. It’ll receive $11.8M through the federal government with an additional $4.66M subsidy being offered through the state screen agency. Producer Eric McLeod had the following to say:

    The highly skilled crews, first-rate facilities, and unique locations make filming in Australia a great experience. The support from both the federal government as well as Queensland has always been critical to our success in achieving a high level of filmmaking and an unparalleled audience experience.

    Eric McLeod

    It’s crazy that we haven’t heard anything about the project in some time, and now it’s already eyeing a productions tart. We have no real idea what the future has in store for the franchise, but there have been hints that it may explore a storyline focusing on the aftermath for Kong rather than Godzilla, who kickstarted the franchise. It’s also strange they aren’t building up multiple entries, as there is a surprising amount of silence on the project. So, we’ll see if this announcement builds up to a potential reveal on its title and direction.

    Source: Twitter, Variety

  • ‘Dune’s Legendary Sells Minority Stake to Apollo

    ‘Dune’s Legendary Sells Minority Stake to Apollo

    Legendary Entertainment has seen a strong rebound during the pandemic, as their latest releases Dune, Enola Holmes, and Godzilla vs. Kong left a good impression, especially since the latter was the first to revive the box office during its March release. Yet, the company has been open to potentially sell or even merging with other companies back in July. It seems that they found a buyer, as Legendary has sold a minority stake of its company to the equity firm Apollo for $760M. However, no official statement has been made on how large that equity stake will be. CEO Josh Grode had the following to say on their sale:

    We didn’t need to do this now. We have a significant amount of cash on our balance sheet.” The influx of funding from Apollo “positions us for what we believe is the future, which is a lot of M&A opportunities.

    Josh Grode

    The company was first purchased back in 2016 by Wanda for $3.5 billion and went on to produce some strong box office franchises. Dune made quite a splash at the box office last year and they’ve made some strong deals with streamers to extend their IPs through other means, such as the recent announcement of an Apple TV+ series that explores the aftermath of 2014’s Godzilla. It seems they have also considered a full takeover, but decided against it. Besides its film offerings, Legendary also consists of a comic book, VR, licensing, and merchandising divisions.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Godzilla’s MonsterVerse Continues In New Apple TV+ Series

    ‘Godzilla’s MonsterVerse Continues In New Apple TV+ Series

    It looks like the Monsterverse will live on, as we’ve been anxiously awaiting an update since the release of Godzilla vs. Kong. Turns out, Apple TV+ has made a massive deal for a new series that takes place in Legendary’s Monsterverse franchise that will explore the aftermath from when San Francisco was destroyed in a battle between Godzilla and the Titans. The story focuses on a family that starts to uncover how their legacy connects to the mysterious organization known as Monarch.

    The project is currently untitled, but Chris Black will serve as showrunner. It seems that Legendary has been searching for a potential buyer to carry on the franchise through a TV series, as they work on a film in the meantime. Apple has been struggling with a lack of IPs, and it seems they were the ones to get their hands on it. What makes this a surprising direction is that the Monsterverse was part of Warner Bros.’ IP, especially with Godzilla vs. Kong releasing simultaneously on HBO Max. Justin Kroll offered some insight into why they decided ended up with Apple TV+.

    Matt Fraction is also a co-creator of the series and will produce alongside Safehouse Pictures’ Tory Tunnell, and Joby Harold. Toho is also involved with Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita acting as executive producers. Their involvement confirms that the series will include Godzilla in some capacity. It’s great that the franchise will continue, but does raise some questions regarding their relationship with Warner Bros. moving forward, as they are also working on a Dune spinoff series with HBO Max. We’ll see what the future has in store.

    Source: Deadline, Twitter

  • ‘Dune’ and ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’s Legendary Entertainment Open to Sale or Merger

    ‘Dune’ and ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’s Legendary Entertainment Open to Sale or Merger

    It looks like another production company is seeking a potential merger, as Legendary Entertainment is exploring sales options. This news drops right after they unveiled the new trailer for Dune, which has quite a bit of hype behind it. It’s also surprising if you consider its release of Godzilla vs. Kong as one of the few blockbusters during the pandemic era. It even revived the franchise, which was seeing a drop in Box Office since the launch of its first Monsterverse film in 2014.

    It seems that there have been discussions since April. Discussions have picked up in pace in the last few weeks. The timing is quite curious as A24, Imagine Entertainment, and Hello Sunshine are also actively seeking a potential sale. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is still getting their purchase by Amazon signed off. There’s also the WarnerMedia and Discovery merger that needs a governmental sign-off. Iit seems very likely that Warner Bros. might be the most interested in purchasing the production company. They’ve worked on most projects in the past, but it’s a free-for-all moving forward.

    Of course, there’s also the chance they would merge with smaller production companies, or a competition purchases them. Variety states that the company has seen a steady cash flow but still would be under the $3.5B it was acquired for in 2016. The pandemic played a key part in many smaller production companies’ development. It would be quite a twist if Disney acquires the company. Godzilla used to appear in Marvel comics. So, it would be quite the twist if they acquire the rights to the characters and he gets to face off against Marvel heroes

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’s Adam Wingard in Talks to Direct Next MonsterVerse’s Film

    ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’s Adam Wingard in Talks to Direct Next MonsterVerse’s Film

    It looks like the hashtag movement #ContinuetheMonsterverse worked, as Hollywood Reporter has just revealed that Godzilla vs. Kong‘s director Adam Wingard is already in talks to tackle the next entry in the MonsterVerse franchise by Legendary Studios. As stated by THR, this is a great surprise after Godzilla: King of the Monsters underperformed with only $386M in the worldwide Box Office. Luckily, the latest entry passed $400M globally while releasing simultaneously on HBO Max and during a pandemic. It is the top-grossing movie since the pandemic completely halted the market last year. It also isn’t even opening in all markets, which could add to its performance moving forward. It is uncertain which character’s story he would continue.

    As Godzilla vs. Kong was originally going to end the franchise after it lost Box Office momentum, this is great news for MonserVerse fans. It is uncertain if this project will be fast-tracked, as Wingard is also set to direct a ThunderCats adaptation. Still, according to their report, the director was heavily involved with the development of the Hollow Earth plotline and they have been cooking up ideas since. They even believe that a Son of Kong project might be in the works and could be the one he’ll tackle next. Legendary will try to build on this film’s success and they seem to be looking at spinning off multiple installments. So, we could see Godzilla and Kong splinter off into their own franchises before they get a second showdown. Whatever they decide, we cannot wait to see more Titans in the future.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’: How Monarch Remains the Monsterverse’s Greatest Potential and Its Biggest Crutch

    ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’: How Monarch Remains the Monsterverse’s Greatest Potential and Its Biggest Crutch

    Godzilla vs. Kong has been our first sign that cinemas are recovering. The showdown between these cinema icons has offered an exciting and visually stunning film. An aspect that makes these films stand out from their predecessors is how it deepens its mythology. We explore how these giants can co-exist with humanity. We come to learn in Godzilla: King of the Monsters how these beasts have been hibernating for millennia. It is a great concept that offers our human characters something to do while avoiding getting trampled to death by the mountain-sized Titans. Yet, the latest entry in Legendary’s Monsterverse has revealed how this focus can also drag out a storyline.

     

    Monarch Sciences

     

    To offer a quick rundown, we follow two distinct groups. One ragtag team focuses on uncovering Godzilla’s strange and erratic behavior of randomly destroying cities. The other follows Kong, who is seeking his home in Hollow Earth. In theory, it is a great idea to explore a mysterious world at the center of our planet. Yet, the point of the series is the showdown between Godzilla and Kong. So, we barely scratch the surface of this strange new ecosystem and the Titans that live there. We quickly have to establish Kong, his new weapon, and a way for him to get to Hong Kong.

    The concept is interesting, but it feels more like a pitstop rather than natural worldbuilding. In the intro, Godzilla vs. Kong teases the mighty battles between their ancestors, yet there was no mention of it to this day. They have been building up this showdown for some time, but it feels a bit slapped together in a way. Their only motivation is that two Alpha predators can’t exist at the same time. Yet, they technically have with Kong living on Skull Island all this time. Hollow Earth got teased in King of the Monsters, but it doesn’t match what we witness in its sequel. We got introduced to these two curious concepts of a society worshipping these creatures, but they are nothing more than window dressing for the story. The tribe we met in Kong: Skull Island ended up getting eradicated off-screen since the 2017 film was released. It felt like a waste to skim over that aspect.

     

    Monarch Sciences

     

    In a way, they try to use Monarch purely as an expedition dump. The 2014 Godzilla focused on people that weren’t related to the secret organization, who started gaining center stage with each new entry. Each film needs to explore and explain the history of these monsters. At some points, they try to get the human characters to have an essential role in the Titan’s battle, which feels a bit forced. It creates a bizarre dichotomy of these giants that survived long before us being a bit dependent on human meddling. The problem is that the human characters don’t feel like they have a personal challenge to overcome but rather are cogs to push towards specific story beats.

    Monarch is a great concept to tie the movies together, but it is time to focus on more personal stories as the mythology grows in the background. It got rumored that Monarch might get its own HBO Max spin-off series. It can serve as the mythology-based series that explores everything set up throughout the Monsterverse, while the films can take a step back and offer some new perspectives on a world filled with Titans roaming freely.

  • ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Roars US Cinema Back to Life With $48M+ Easter Weekend

    ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Roars US Cinema Back to Life With $48M+ Easter Weekend

    We’ve been waiting to hear the words that the American Box Office was healing. There were many attempts in the last few months to see if blockbuster films could revive the market. We’ve seen some movement in international markets but the local one was still suffering from the pandemic. So, there was some hope the further we get in 2021, we would see the market recover somewhat. It looks like it took for the release of Godzilla vs. Kong to accomplish that task. The latest entry in the Monstersverse opened over the Easter holiday and offered a 5-day opening of approximately $48.5M. It had an overall $32M kickstart to revive cinemas somewhat.

    Of course, these numbers aren’t what they use to be. We’ve seen blockbusters open upward to 200M, but this is a sign that the Box Office is recovering somewhat. Godzilla vs. Kong was well-received and managed to surpass expectations and was on par with another Easter opener, Ready Player One in 2018. We also have to keep in mind that the film is also available for HBO Max owners for free. As Forbes points out, the film is performing similarly to the usual Monsterverse fair in a non-COVID situation, such as Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ $48M opening two years ago. The way the film focuses on Kong as an action-hero facing off against Godzilla may also have played in the film’s favor, as the 50s icon has a stronger following in the West. It’ll be interesting to see how the next films will perform to see if we are witnessing an upward trend to normalcy.

    Source: Twitter, Forbes