Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a roaring success. The fifth film in Warner Bros. and Legendary Picture’s MonsterVerse franchise opened above expectations over the Easter holiday weekend, earning over $194 million worldwide — the biggest global opening of the year. It was once believed that the MonsterVerse was going to end with 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, a highly-anticipated rematch that came 59 years after the two iconic monsters’ first meeting in 1962’s King Kong vs. Godzilla. After these box office numbers, though, it’s safe to assume that the MonsterVerse will live on for another day. It’s also safe to assume that Godzilla x Kong writer-director Adam Wingard will be the studio’s first choice to bring back for another sequel.
Filmmaker Adam Wingard has come a long way since joining the MonsterVerse. Wingard, who was previously best known for his horror/thrillers You’re Next and The Guest, first started to work on Godzilla vs. Kong as early back as 2017, when writer-director Michael Dougherty was deep in production on Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Godzilla and Kong’s on-screen reunion was a surprising box office hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that audiences across the globe were still hungry for more MonsterVerse movies. Since then, Wingard has signed on to direct a live-action adaptation of the ’80s Thundercats cartoon and a sequel to 1997’s Face/Off, made famous by John Travolta and Nicolas Cage’s larger-than-life performances. He’s confirmed to be still attached to those projects, but another Godzilla x Kong film might be getting added to this already impressive slate.
Is Baby Godzilla coming to the MonsterVerse?
As DiscussingFilm previously reported, Adam Wingard strongly desires to return for another sequel in the MonsterVerse, telling us, “I do have more story to tell with these monsters and I know where I’d go with it.” It seems like Wingard’s dreams for his own MonsterVerse trilogy are now closer to coming true thanks to the hordes of people turning up to see Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire in theaters. DiscussingFilm can now exclusively shed some light on what Wingard’s potential next Godzilla x Kong movie could end up looking like. And the answer might even surprise the most hardcore Kaiju fans.
During an exclusive interview with Godzilla x Kong writer-director Adam Wingard, we asked if there’s a chance that a version of Baby Godzilla (or Minilla) could be introduced in the MonsterVerse. The new Titan Suko, or “mini Kong” as he’s referred to, was at the emotional core of Godzilla x Kong. So, it’s not too far-fetched to imagine a mini Godzilla in this franchise. Wingard’s answer, however, neither confirmed nor denied his plans for a Baby Godzilla. Instead, he gave a tease with a smirk and immediately referenced an older Godzilla film that just so happens also to feature a younger version of Godzilla, known as Godzilla Junior. Spoilers for Godzilla vs. Destoroyah follow…
“I’ll say this, one of my top Godzilla movies is Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. The reason it’s one of my favorite films is I don’t think any other Godzilla movie, maybe outside of Minus One and the 1954 original, has ever hit such emotional highs. The ending of that film, when Godzilla Jr. dies and, subsequently, Godzilla fucking melts to death, is so poignant and also beautiful in the way that they do it. The first time I saw it, it brought tears to my eyes. And part of that is thanks to Akira Ifukube’s grand score that plays in that scene.
Paying Homage to Destoroyah
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah brought an end to the Heisei Era of Toho’s Godzilla franchise. The Heisei Era (1984-1995) birthed fan-favorite additions to the Godzilla mythos such as 1989’s Godzilla vs. Biollante and 1991’s Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. It all came to a literal end in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, wherein Godzilla faced arguably his most powerful and horrifying enemy. Godzilla Junior — who had already been introduced by that point in the series as Godzilla’s son — continues to grow in size but is ultimately killed by the mutated demon-like creature known as Destoroyah. The older Godzilla spends the whole movie building up radiation to the point where his burning body starts to superheat, making him a walking nuclear bomb. Even after barely defeating Destoroyah with his newly empowered atomic powers, Godzilla succumbs to a nuclear meltdown that tragically kills him.
It’s not all doom and gloom in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, though. The film ends by revealing that Godzilla Junior is revived by the radioactive fallout from the original Godzilla’s death. While there is no direct sequel to Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, it’s implied that Junior takes his father’s place and continues to rule as the new King of the Monsters in the Heisei timeline. So, why does Adam Wingard bring all of this up when being asked about introducing Baby Godzilla to the MonsterVerse? The director tells us that if he were to complete his MonsterVerse trilogy, the next Godzilla x Kong film would put a stronger focus on Godzilla and try to hit the same emotional highs as 1995’s Godzilla vs. Destoroyah.
“It’s crazy because you look at [Godzilla vs. Destoroyah], and it’s a very high-end version of having a guy in a Godzilla suit. I would say it’s probably the peak of it because I don’t think it’s been matched in terms of that version — the quality and the scale of having Godzilla brought to life through an actor in a suit. But that’s the thing for me, if I were going to do another one of these films, I would want to hit that kind of emotional resonance with Godzilla as a character this time. That’s what I’ll say for now.”
Adam Wingard’s Future in the MonsterVerse
Currently, a new MonsterVerse film hasn’t been officially announced. As Wingard previously told DiscussingFilm, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures will make the decision based on how Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire does at the box office and “how things kind of shape out.” While he does have a plan for another sequel, Wingard is wise enough not to reveal all of his secrets yet. Whether or not these plans include a new version of Baby Godzilla or Minilla is anyone’s guess. Still, the filmmaker drawing inspiration from a story that heavily involves Godzilla Junior leads to tons of speculation.
Could Wingard be hinting toward creating a relationship between Godzilla and a mini-zilla, just like he did with Kong and Suko? Or could he be teasing that Godzilla will pass the baton when his journey in the Monsterverse is over? The fans can only theorize for now. However, it is exciting to hear Wingard talk about giving Godzilla a stronger focus in the next film when both Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire are more centered around Kong. Additionally, the director’s words imply that the next movie will be another team-up, or at least feature both Alpha Titans, rather than a solo outing. Of course, these plans can change at any point as talks within the studio are being kept under wraps for the time being.
The New Empire is Just Getting Started
In the meantime, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is looking to have strong legs at the box office. With an A- CinemaScore, which is the second highest grade from the entire MonsterVerse series, it’s clear that audiences have resonated with director Adam Wingard’s absurd monster chaos. Many have likened The New Empire to the silliness of Saturday morning cartoons. Godzilla fans, specifically, have compared its treatment of the Titans as real characters and over-the-top action to the Show Era.
The human cast, including Monarch scientist Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), her adopted daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle), Titan truther Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry), and monster veterinarian Trapper (Dan Stevens), embrace the script’s fantastical plot and the mythic nature of their Titan co-stars. Obviously, this kind of tone is tailored for a specific kind of viewer, but it’s proven to be what people have wanted to see from this franchise. In a time when audiences are treated to both the Hollow Earth hijinks of Adam Wingard in the MonsterVerse and the drama-focused story of Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One, there’s little to complain about.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is now playing in theaters!
Release Date: March 29, 2024.
Directed by Adam Wingard.
Screenplay by Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, & Jeremy Slater.
Story by Terry Rossio, Adam Wingard, & Simon Barrett.
Based on Godzilla by Toho Co., Ltd.
Produced by Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Brian Rogers, Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, & Eric McLeod.
Main Cast: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen, & Rachel House.
Cinematographer: Ben Seresin.
Composers: Tom Holkenborg (Junkie XL) & Antonio Di Iorio.
Production Company: Legendary Pictures.
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Runtime: 115 minutes.
Rated PG-13.
