Film

How Legendary Pictures Can #ContinueTheMonsterVerse After GODZILLA VS. KONG

Legendary Pictures successfully began an American-based Godzilla franchise in 2014, with its first film starring the iconic monster. The movie began the MonsterVerse, a shared cinematic universe that includes other monsters. It continued with 2017’s Kong: Skull Island (which rebooted King Kong) and 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters (which also featured King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Rodan). This has all led up to the release of the new film Godzilla vs. Kong, which pits the two titans against each other in a clash of the ages.

Godzilla vs. Kong was a solid movie (check out our review here), and it has been adding some much-needed life to the box office. Naturally, fans are anxious to see more films in this franchise. #ContinueTheMonsterVerse has trended on Twitter, with even Legendary acknowledging it. While unconfirmed, the studio confirmed that more movie ideas are being considered. Considering how much money and goodwill has been generated by this franchise, it makes too much sense to continue. Both Godzilla and King Kong have a lot of lore behind their decades-old franchises, so there’s plenty to pull from for this universe.

Below, we list five ideas on how Legendary can continue the MonsterVerse after Godzilla vs. Kong. (SPOILERS for Godzilla vs. Kong are included!)

More Godzilla/Kong Standalone Films

The most obvious way to continue the MonsterVerse is to create new standalone films in the Godzilla and Kong series. There’s plenty more to explore with both characters, particularly Kong. A solo sequel can further explore Hollow Earth and the creatures in that realm. Maybe it can explore the time gap between Skull Island and Godzilla vs. Kong. Meanwhile, Godzilla can continue to encounter new monsters in his own series. Also, with Big G fighting Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs. Kong, why not bring in Mechani-Kong in the Skull Island sequel? But ultimately, these are some of several ideas that can be explored.

New Animated Show(s)

Both Godzilla and Kong have headlined various animated and anime shows over the years. Most recently, Godzilla Singular Point is an anime series that released this year, while a Skull Island anime (based on the movie) is in the works at Netflix. Both franchises can easily expand into animated settings. They can explore new characters, new monsters, and new worlds that do not appear in the live action films. It would certainly help the budgets anyways.

Pacific Rim Crossover

Fans have wanted Pacific Rim to crossover with the MonsterVerse forever. The two movies in that franchise have garnered a fan following, but haven’t quite matched the box office potential of the other monster films. Still, the potential is very much there. Seeing Jaegers going up against Godzilla, Kong, and potentially other monsters is very exciting. Guillermo del Toro and Steven S. DeKnight, the directors/producers of the Pacific Rim movies, have shown interest in a crossover too. And Legendary Pictures owns them all. Why not give it a shot?

New Standalone Monster Films

While continuing the standalone stories of Godzilla and Kong is ideal, one way to freshen things up in the MonsterVerse is to create new solo monster films. There are definitely options, such as Varan and Anguirus (both who have a history in the original Godzilla movies). They can even expand the current franchises with spinoffs like Son of Godzilla or Son of Kong. But if they can create new solo films that match the appeal of Godzilla or Kong, then that will help cement the MonsterVerse’s future.

Destroy All Monsters

We’ve saved the biggest option for last. If Legendary wants to one-up the crossover appeal of Godzilla vs. Kong, the studio can remake the classic Destroy All Monsters. The original film, released in 1968, features everyone from Godzilla and King Ghidorah to Anguirus and Mothra. It even features aliens, who mind-control the monsters and eventually pit them against Ghidorah. A similar story would be an epic culmination of everything in the MonsterVerse so far. If Godzilla vs. Kong is the equivalent of The Avengers, then Destroy All Monsters would be the equivalent of Endgame.

How do you want to see the MonsterVerse continued? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter at @WOBAMEnt.

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of WOBAM! Entertainment.

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