GODZILLA VS. KONG (2020): Legendary & WB Combine Film Franchises

Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures unite King Kong and Godzilla Franchises. The two movie studios, in a joint agreement, with release two monster films which will be followed by a third, a title bout between a gigantic lizard and humongous ape. Kong: Skull Island will be the first film released, premiering in regular theaters, 3D, and IMAX 3D on March 10, 2017. Godzilla 2 will be the second, premiering on June 8, 2018. The third film will be Godzilla vs. Kong, premiering in 2012. Classic creature like Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah are expected to make appearances in the upcoming monster films as well.

On Kong: Skull Island:

Tom Hiddleston is set to star in “Kong: Skull Island” alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman, Tian Jing, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, John Ortiz, Shea Whigham and Toby Kebbell.

Jordan Vogt-Roberts will direct from a script written by Max Borenstein, John Gatins, Dan Gilroy and Derek Connolly. The film aims to fully immerse audiences in the mysterious and dangerous home of the king of the apes as a team of explorers ventures deep inside the treacherous, primordial island.

On Godzilla 2:

Gareth Edwards will return to direct “Godzilla 2” from a script by Max Borenstein.

Godzilla vs. Kong has no director, writer, or cast attached yet but you can expect to see some familiar faces from Godzilla. “Monarch, the human organization that uncovered Godzilla in the 2014 film, will expand their mission across multiple releases, including the ‘Godzilla’ sequel.” My guess is that this includes Godzilla vs. Kong.

Fans of monster films have been waiting to see King Kong and Godzilla fight again. The first time happened in 1962 when the film King Kong vs. Godzilla (Kingu Kongu Tai Gojira) was released in Japan then again in the United States in 1963.

During their next encounter, since the two monsters won’t be played by guys in rubber suits, it should be far more entertaining.

The official press release regarding the trilogy and Godzilla vs. Kong:

Following Legendary’s and Warner Bros. Pictures’ 2014 success with the global reinvention of the Godzilla franchise, the companies have come together to create an epic, new shared cinematic franchise. All-powerful monsters become towering heroes for a new generation, revealing a mythology that brings together Godzilla and Legendary’s King Kong in an ecosystem of other giant super-species, both classic and new. Monarch, the human organization that uncovered Godzilla in the 2014 film, will expand their mission across multiple releases.

The announcement that the reinvention of monsters continues was made today by Legendary CEO, Thomas Tull, and Kevin Tsujihara, Chairman and CEO, Warner Bros. The initial trio of films are 2017’s KONG: SKULL ISLAND; GODZILLA 2 in 2018; and then GODZILLA VS. KONG, arriving in theaters in 2020. While Legendary maintains its new home at Universal Pictures, the GODZILLA films remain in partnership with Warner Bros., who will now also distribute KONG as a part of this franchise. Production on KONG: SKULL ISLAND begins October 19th.

Warner Bros. and Legendary released Godzilla in May 2014 with an agreement to release Godzilla 2 on June 8, 2018. Both films feature the human Monarch organization. Shortly following Legendary’s pact with NBC Universal, Legendary acquired rights to additional classic characters from Toho’s Godzilla universe, including Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah. This paved the way for developing a franchise centered around Monarch and anchored by Godzilla, King Kong, and other famous creatures.

When Legendary announced films centered on Godzilla and Kong, fans all over the world speculated these two characters might one day meet in the same film. Classic Toho monsters including King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Rodan, as announced at Comic-Con 2014, may also join the Legendary pantheon of giant monster mayhem going forward.

“Audiences really responded to Godzilla,” stated Tull. “Today, I’m excited to reveal that film was only the beginning of an epic new entertainment universe. As a lifelong fan of these characters, I’ve always wanted to see the ultimate showdown, and today we’re pleased to be announcing that and more.”

Advertisement

 

“Working with our partners at Legendary, we enjoyed tremendous creative and commercial success with `Godzilla,’” said Tsujihara. “It’s great to be able to revisit these characters and help create a franchise with so many creative possibilities for filmmakers. Fans love these big, globally iconic films and it doesn’t get any bigger than this.”

Leave your thoughts on Godzilla and King Kong duking-it-out on the big screen (via TheWrap) below in the comments section. For more film news, visit our Movie News Page, our Movie News Google+ Page, our Movie News Facebook Page, and consider subscribing to us by Email, “following” us on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, or “liking” us on Facebook for quick updates.