Movies - Godzilla x Kong : The New Empire : Seventh Installment of the MonsterVerse Set to Hit Theaters on April 12, 2024

By Mulder, 12 march 2023

Legendary Pictures, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Pictures, had proudly announced the highly anticipated release of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, directed by the visionary filmmaker Adam Wingard. As the sequel to the colossal success Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), this film marks the seventh installment and the fifth in the MonsterVerse, representing the 38th entry in the Godzilla franchise and the 13th in the King Kong saga. Notably, it is the fifth Godzilla film entirely produced by an American film studio.

Building on the triumph of its predecessor during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire has been eagerly awaited by fans worldwide. The film stars a stellar cast, including Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle, and Fala Chen, with Hall, Henry, and Hottle reprising their roles from the previous film.

Following the box office and streaming triumph of Godzilla vs. Kong, Legendary Pictures confirmed the sequel in March 2022, and production commenced later that year. The visionary Adam Wingard returned to the director's chair, with Dan Stevens taking on the lead role. Filming took place in the picturesque Gold Coast, Queensland, from July to November 2022, promising audiences a cinematic experience of epic proportions.

Scheduled for theatrical release on April 12, 2024, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire continues the MonsterVerse legacy that began with Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 2019. Producer Alex Garcia expressed in March 2019 the studio's hope to expand the MonsterVerse if the films proved successful, and it seems that hope is materializing with the latest installment.

Godzilla vs. Kong, released on March 24, 2021, became a global phenomenon during the pandemic, grossing $470 million worldwide and earning the title of the most pirated film of 2021. Legendary's CEO Josh Grode hinted at potential sequels, and the hashtag #ContinueTheMonsterVerse trended on Twitter, gaining support from fans and industry figures alike.

The sequel's journey began in March 2022, with the announcement of the commencement of filming in Gold Coast, Queensland. In May 2022, it was revealed that Adam Wingard would return to direct, and Dan Stevens was cast as the lead. The working title Origins sparked curiosity among fans, and Toho Co., Ltd. confirmed Godzilla's presence in the film in July 2022.

As the excitement continued to build, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary unveiled a new synopsis in August 2022, along with the news that Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle would reprise their roles. Additional cast members, including Fala Chen, Alex Ferns, and Rachel House, joined the ensemble. The return of key creative talents, such as production designer Tom Hammock and composer Tom Holkenborg, heightened anticipation for the sequel.

Principal photography concluded in November 2022, with the film's potential title, Godzilla and Kong, revealed through crew gear. The return of cinematographer Ben Seresin and composer Tom Holkenborg ensured a seamless continuation of the visually stunning and musically captivating MonsterVerse.

The marketing campaign kicked off in April 2023 with a teaser trailer that unveiled the film's official title. A banner displayed at the North American International Toy Fair in New York teased a potential team-up, and a panel featuring Adam Wingard and the cast is scheduled for CCXP in December 2023.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire promises to deliver a cinematic spectacle like never before, combining the forces of two iconic monsters in a battle for supremacy. The film is set to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, inviting audiences to witness the birth of a new empire in the MonsterVerse.

Synopsis :
This latest entry 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.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Directed by Adam Wingard
Written by Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, Jeremy Slater
Story by Terry Rossio, Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett
Based on Godzilla by Toho Co., Ltd., King Kong by Edgar Wallace, Merian C. Cooper
Produced by Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Eric McLeod, Brian Rogers, Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni
Starring Dan Stevens, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle, Fala Chen
Cinematography : Ben Seresin
Edited by Josh Schaeffer
Music by Tom Holkenborg
Production company : Legendary Pictures
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures (Worldwide), Toho (Japan)
Release date : April 12, 2024 (United States), April 16, 2024 (France)
Running time : NC