Godzilla vs. Kong is breaking pandemic box office records, and scores a big win for HBO Max, where it’s streaming along with appearing in movie theaters. It’s the fourth movie in the MonsterVerse created by Warner Bros. and Legendary Studios, and culminates the first chapter in the shared universe.
After Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island (2017), and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), the mythology of the Hollow Earth is fully established, and the story arc is set to continue with both monsters intact – despite their titanic battles in the new movie.
The creative team behind the latest blockbuster is ready for the next round.
It’s All About The Monsters – Humans Are Secondary
There are always a few interesting human characters in the Monsterverse, which has seen stars like Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson (Kong: Skull Island) and Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston (Godzilla). It’s just that – like Ishirō Serizawa and his son-turned-evil-scientist Ren Serizawa, their characters may not live very long in this series.
Young actress Kaylee Hottle made her screen debut with Godzilla vs. Kong in the role of Jia, who speaks with Kong via sign language. In real life, the actress is hearing impaired. Millie Bobby Brown was back as Madison Russell, and there are assorted bad guys associated with Apex, including its head Walter Simmons (Demián Bichir).
But, the Monsterverse is ultimately about the kaiju or Titans. Screenwriter Max Borenstein has a writing credit in all four Monsterverse movies, including the new Godzilla vs. Kong. He spoke to Den of Geek.
“Really for me, the mandate of this film was: how do we finally allow Godzilla and Kong to carry their own movie? In the previous films, because we were sort of establishing them, we always had these human characters who were our way in, and they still are. But more and more in this film, Godzilla and Kong are the stars, and everybody else is a supporting character.”
He explains how humans fit into the picture.
“They’re not carrying the movie, but they might be like Simon Pegg in the Mission: Impossible movies, where there’s charm and there’s humor, and there’s emotion that comes from those characters. But they’re not being asked to carry the movie in the way that a star would, because our stars are Godzilla and Kong.”
What’s Next For The Monsterverse?
Where could the story go? So far, Godzilla has encountered Rodan, Mothra, Ghidorah, and of course Kong. The others were vanquished, but it was of course remnants of King Ghidorah that Ren Serizawa used to fire up Mechagodzilla, and which then unexpectedly took over the creature. It seems likely that Ghidorah and the other Titans could also be resurrected for future adventures.
In 2014’s Godzilla, part of the action took place in 1999, where a mine collapsed and the Mutos were discovered. Other Mutos (Titans) could emerge from the Hollow Earth, where Kong now reigns as king.
Screenwriter Max Borenstein is pumped to continue writing for the Monsterverse, as he explained in an interview.
“There have definitely been ideas thrown around. I can’t say I’m appraised on the absolute latest right now, but I know that it’s all about this being the kind of Avengers moment and hopefully people respond and audiences will dig the way that we’ve kind of wrapped up this initial chapter of the Monsterverse.”
Godzilla vs. Kong director Adam Wingard says he’s ready to return to the franchise.
“Right when I finished this film, I sat down with Legendary and I told them, ‘Look. I’m really proud of the movie and everything we’ve accomplished. And if you guys are interested in doing another one of these, this is the way I would do it. I just want to throw my hat in the ring because I’m really proud of this film.’”
New challenges may come from the Hollow Earth, or even space aliens, as in the Japanese Godzilla flicks. Wingard says it’s too early to talk about a specific story.
“I would love to do another and I know where I’d go, but I don’t want to say anything too detailed, because if anything, a lot of things could change,” explains the director. “Even if I was hired to do another, let’s say, maybe we come up with an even cooler idea. So I know where I’d go with it, but I don’t want to box myself in any corners.”
Godzilla vs. Kong is playing in theaters and streaming on HBO Max.