We know that financially Godzilla vs Kong has been fairly successful considering the current climate. The fourth MonsterVerse installment has nearly surpassed $400 million which actually trumps King of the Monsters. We also know that Godzilla vs Kong has been received in a very positive light compared to it predecessor which received mixed reviews from critics and fans alike. But what does that mean for the MonsterVerse?
As of now the MonsterVerse comprises of just four films- Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island (2017), King of the Monsters (2019), and Godzilla vs Kong (2021). To us, the success of the MonsterVerse depended fully on the outcome of Godzilla vs Kong. That’s probably why there weren’t any big teases or a nice post credit scene. Why tease what’s coming next when this could be the end of a universe. Based on the performance of King of the Monsters we’re not surprised that they took a more cautious route. However, it seems as though audiences still have a thirst for some Kaiju/Titan action. Just looking at the fact that Godzilla vs Kong was able to financially beat King of the Monsters whilst in a lockdown is evidence of that. That fact alone may have just saved the MonsterVerse.
With that in mind… What’s next for the MonsterVerse?
Well, here’s where it gets interesting. With the introduction of the Hollow Earth and Kong establishing his own settlement there, the possibilities are quite endless. King Kong has somehow endured within Hollywood with one very simple story line: Giant gorilla ruins New York and then plummets to his death. We are way beyond that now.
Kong can now exist and thrive outside of that story line. The folks over at Legendary can start experimenting just like they did with Skull Island. We’re talking new monsters, new settings and new threats. This can be both a good and bad thing. Unlike Godzilla who has a library of monsters to fight, Kong is very limited. But what they could do is integrate some of Godzilla’s foes and allies to really set up a shared universe. Godzilla’s enemies are Kong’s enemies and Godzilla’s friends are also Kong’s friends. The point is that Legendary now have a sandbox full of monsters and possibilities.
Then there’s Godzilla. As previously mentioned, Godzilla has an entire mythology that is rich and nuts. You only have to put Godzilla up against one of his foes and you have a movie. Unfortunately, the issue isn’t the monsters… it’s the human element. Monster movie fans desire movies that focus purely on the monsters rather than the humans. The issue with that is that the human characters need to drive the narrative forward. But there’s only so much you can do before it becomes repetitive. They need to develop new ways to integrate the human story in without taking the spotlight away from the monsters. If they can achieve that, the MonsterVerse can resume and introduce a new generation to the various monsters created throughout the various Japanese eras: Showa, Heisei, and Millennium.
It’s also worth remembering that Legendary have done a great job at developing new monsters like the MUTOs and Skullcrawlers on top of the 17 additional Titans scattered all over the globe. So not only do we have Godzilla’s vast history as a basis for material, but we also have some brand new Titans that have not yet had their time to shine and destroy.
Here are just a few of the Monsters that Legendary could introduce:
- Biollante
- King Caesar
- Hedorah
- Gigan
- Destoroyah
- Space Godzila
- Mecha- King Ghidorah
Surely that’s enough to keep the MonsterVerse going? It will probably be a while before we find out what the future holds for our beloved monsters, but the financial and overall response to Godzilla vs Kong is a very promising sign. What would you like to see Godzilla and Kong tackle next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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