Godzilla and Kong in "Godzilla vs. Kong."Warner Bros. Pictures
- "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" is the follow-up to 2021's "Godzilla vs. Kong."
- The two Titans will face off against a new enemy in the sequel.
It's a good time to be a Godzilla fan. Not only does Toho's "Godzilla Minus One" arrive in US theaters on Friday, but Warner Bros.' own take on the King of the Monsters is getting ready to return in 2024.
The legendary beast kicked off the studio's MonsterVerse in 2014 with Gareth Edwards' "Godzilla," which established a gritty new take on the classic monster.
Since then, the franchise has continued with 2017's "Kong: Skull Island" and 2019's "Godzilla: King of the Monsters," before the iconic lizard fought the mighty ape in 2021's "Godzilla vs. Kong."
The two Titans are gearing up to return to the big screen for Adam Wingard's "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," although they probably won't be fighting each other this time. Here's what we know about the new sequel.
'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' will hit theaters in 2024
Godzilla charging up his Atomic Breath in "Godzilla vs. Kong." Warner Bros. Pictures
It's been over two years since Godzilla and Kong waged war against each other in "Godzilla vs. Kong" before teaming up to take down Mechagodzilla in Hong Kong. The climactic battle showed how formidable the duo are when working together, hinting at the potential for bigger stories down the line.
Audiences won't have to wait much longer to see them partner up again though. "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" will release on April 12, 2024.
In the meantime, fans of the MonsterVerse can watch Apple TV+'s "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," starring Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell. It fills in the backstory behind the organization which is dedicated to finding Titans across the world in the hopes of preventing future disasters.
'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' picks up after the 2021 movie
Kong holding an axe made out of Godzilla's spines in "Godzilla vs. Kong." Warner Bros. Pictures
"The New Empire" will pick up after the events of "Godzilla vs. Kong," which saw Kong move down into the Hollow Earth to rule over all the monsters that live inside the planet, while Godzilla still roams the oceans.
The first synopsis from WB teases that a new threat against the planet emerges, and that the movie will also be exploring the history of the Titans themselves:
And judging by the bloody first poster for the sequel, it looks like a new gigantic ape will be challenging Kong for the throne. The studio also seemingly revealed the villain's name in the Instagram post too: "Skar King."
It's not clear how or why this new Titan has gone undiscovered for so long, but the film will likely explain that too.
The cast of 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' features some returning actors
Rebecca Hall and Brian Tyree Henry are both returning for the sequel. Warner Bros. Pictures/Marvel Studios/Disney
Let's face it, the audience really isn't coming to these movies for the human characters. That being said, "The New Empire" is bringing back a few actors from "Godzilla vs. Kong."
Rebecca Hall is reprising her role as Dr. Ilene Andrews alongside Kaylee Hottle, who plays Andrews' surrogate daughter, Jia.
"Eternals" star Brian Tyree Henry is also returning to play conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes, who had a key role in the previous film.
Meanwhile, "Beauty and the Beast" star Dan Stevens is a newcomer to the franchise, although his role is being kept under wraps for now. He'll also be joined by Scottish actor Alex Ferns, who was previously seen as the corrupt police commissioner in "The Batman."