Just in time for Nerdoween, a mega-sized monster mash is on the horizon. Warner Bros. and Legendary are teaming up for a Godzilla vs. King Kong film in 2020, which will bring the two colossal cinematic creatures to the big screen. Many fans — including yours truly — have speculated that the two monster movie franchises were building towards a shared universe, but now it’s official.
The two companies announced on Wednesday that the film will serve as a launching pad for an “ecosystem of other giant super-species, both classic and new.” In a press release, it was confirmed that classic Toho monsters like Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah have the potential to join Godzilla and King Kong on the roster of eldritch beasts with which the Monarch organization from 2014’s Godzilla must contend. In any event, the Monarch organization will expand the purview of its mission in Kong: Skull Island on March 10, 2017 and Godzilla 2 on June 8, 2018.
In a statement, Legendary’s Thomas Tull said, “Audiences really responded to Godzilla. Today, I’m excited to reveal that film was only the beginning of an epic new entertainment universe. As a lifelong fan of these characters, I’ve always wanted to see the ultimate showdown, and today we’re pleased to be announcing that and more.”
“Working with our partners at Legendary, we enjoyed tremendous creative and commercial success with Godzilla,” said Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara. “It’s great to be able to revisit these characters and help create a franchise with so many creative possibilities for filmmakers. Fans love these big, globally iconic films and it doesn’t get any bigger than this.”
Now, the question remains: will Pacific Rim wind up integrate into this gigantic, monstrous universe like I predicted back in the first-ever episode of The Dan Cave?
What do you think of this monster mash-up? What other monsters would you like to see join Godzilla and King Kong? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Editor’s note: Nerdist Industries is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.
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Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author of books about Star Wars and the Avengers. You can follow him on Twitter (@Osteoferocious).
