Between the MCU, DCEU, Universal’s embryonic Dark Universe and the MonsterVerse, there’s not a day that goes by without some exciting update being released for one of Hollywood’s interconnected film franchises. The latter has proven to be a particular point of fixation in recent days, after we learned that Adam Wingard (The Guest, Death Note) has officially climbed aboard to take the reins on 2020 event film Godzilla Vs. Kong.
But Gojira, Toho’s most famous creation, will be back on our screens long before his impending tussle with King Kong thanks to the launch of Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Headed up by Krampus helmer Michael Dougherty – the Trick ‘r Treat filmmaker initially signed on to hash out a script for Godzilla 2 with the help of Zach Shields, before eventually agreeing to a deal to direct – King of the Monsters has been busy filling its casting sheet with a host of big-name Hollywood stars, with former Game of Thrones actor Charles Dance being the newest addition to the fold.
That was two weeks ago, and it seems Legendary and Warner Bros. have already settled on their latest recruit: Thomas Middleditch, star of HBO sitcom Silicon Valley. First reported by Variety, it’s understood Middleditch actually held a small off-camera role in Skull Island earlier this year (a Monarch employee, perhaps?), so we’re intrigued to see how his mystery character factors into the equation come 2019. Other actors on board for King of Monsters include Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler, Aisha Hinds, O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Outta Compton) and Hamilton breakout Anthony Ramos
Directed by Dougherty, Godzilla: King of the Monsters will rise from the depths in time for March 22nd, 2019. The post-credits stinger included in Kong: Skull Island suggests that the alpha predator will be going up against such iconic movie monsters as Mothra and King Ghidorah, which ought to lend Gojira plenty of practice in anticipation of Godzilla Vs. Kong lighting up theaters on May 22nd, 2020.