It’s the question that has fueled debate for generations. Which cinematic monstrosity would win in a fight: King Kong? Or Godzilla, King of the Monsters?
Thanks to the release of Gareth Edwards’ 2014 reboot, it’s fair to say that many movie fans would place their bets on Gojira, given the Godzilla inhabiting Legendary’s MonsterVerse stands at a mighty 350 feet tall. Kong, by comparison, is only 100 feet in height by the time he’s introduced via Skull Island, though writer-director Adam Wingard has been quick to downplay any concern over the apparent size difference. And for good reason, too, considering he’s been placed in control of the forthcoming crossover, Godzilla Vs. Kong.
Dubbed a “massive monster movie brawl” of epic proportions by Wingard himself, we’re now learning from Omega Underground that things are gearing up to head into production, with the pic expected to shoot this fall in Atlanta, Georgia, with a wrap date set for February 2019. That would put it on the right track to crash into theaters in May of 2020, with more than enough time for the director and his team to finish up what’s sure to be a huge amount of visual effects work.
As for what to expect from the spinoff, well, other than a colossal clash of the titans, we’re not too sure just yet, though Skull Island director Jordan Vogt-Roberts did tease a while back that Godzilla vs. Kong will retain the same sensibilities as his film, saying:
Talking to Adam made me so happy because he, in particular, really understands the kind of anime, manga, mech sensibility that I was trying to bring to Kong. He gets that and that was something that I fought so hard for and was so difficult to sort of realize to life through concept to execution with ILM [Industrial Light and Magic.]
That’s one of the things I’m most proud of with him. I think he truly gets that and he truly wants to lean into this version of Kong that kind of was borne from my crazy and stupid video game brain.
If Skull Island introduced us to the place where myth and science meet, and King of the Monsters is poised to welcome Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah into the fray, then Godzilla Vs. Kong will deliver a monster mash-up for the ages. It’s currently booked in for release in May of 2020, and there have also been rumblings that Lionsgate and Warner Bros. will work to extend their MonsterVerse far into the future.