With the announcement of the Godzilla vs. Kong sequel, to be released in 2024, and the as-of-yet untitled live-action series coming to Apple TV+, Godzilla fans can now rest assured that Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse will be continuing. After Godzilla vs. Kong in 2021, the future of the franchise was a little uncertain. But now that Legendary has slated these two projects for production, the future of Godzilla seems clear (at least for the next couple years).
Godzilla vs. Kong 2 will be directed by Adam Wingard, who directed the previous film, as well as early 2010’s horror films such as V/H/S and You’re Next. Additionally, Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens has been cast in an as-of-yet unnamed role.
While the plot is also currently unknown, it’s rumored to further develop the “Hollow Earth” mythology that Legendary has been developing in this cinematic universe. The MonsterVerse film will commence filming in Australia later this year and is slated for release on March 15, 2024.
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Meanwhile, the Apple TV+ series is getting a lot of buzz. It’s set to star the legendary Kurt Russell, along with his son Wyatt Russell. This series will be loaded with MCU stars; Kurt Russell, of course, played Ego in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Wyatt Russell recently starred in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as John Walker.
Additionally, the series will be partially directed and executively produced by Matt Shakman, who previously directed and executively produced WandaVision. He has also directed a few episodes of Game of Thrones and The Boys. The series will reportedly revolve around the secret Monarch organization and the study of Titans, or giant monsters. Currently, it has no official title or release date and is in pre-production.
For these upcoming projects, Legendary has a lot of options for old monsters to resurrect. While there is a lot of speculation about what antagonists may be returning for these productions, here are my picks for a few kaiju, or Titans I hope to see come back.
MonsterVerse Pick #1 – Biollante
Godzilla vs. Biollante is one of my absolute favorite Godzilla films in the entire franchise. This is largely because the primary antagonist is one of the most ridiculous, zany monsters ever to appear in the series.
For those who haven’t seen the movie, Biollante is a massive plant-monster that was created by fusing the DNA of Godzilla with (wait for it) a rose bush. Not only that but Biollante is also possessed by the spirit of its creator’s deceased daughter. The movie only gets more bizarre when Godzilla battles against Biollante with the help of a school full of psychic children.
Biollante’s original origins might be too campy for the modern MonsterVerse. However, having a plant-based monster go up against Godzilla and/or Kong would be a fantastic and fresh take on the modern kaiju film.
Additionally, Biollante is, visually, one of the most interesting creatures in the Godzilla rogues’ gallery. From her initial haunting Flower Beast form to her terrifying Plant Beast form, Biollante is a massively inventive and unique kaiju. With modern CGI and effects technology, Legendary has the opportunity to make a similarly innovative modern take on the plant-based terror.
Finally, Godzilla has always had underlying environmental themes. Having a plant kaiju could potentially allow the writers to do interesting things with the ecological themes of upcoming films.
MonsterVerse Pick #2 – SpaceGodzilla
Another Heisei-era contender, SpaceGodzilla would be an excellent addition to the Monsterverse. Like Biollante, he’s only appeared in one film, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla, and his return is long overdue.
SpaceGodzilla’s origins are similarly a little bizarre. In the film, the human characters speculate that somehow, pieces of Godzilla’s DNA were cast into outer space (possibly by Mothra), before fusing with a space-bound crystalline lifeform.
There is an opportunity here for a little rewriting. For instance, perhaps SpaceGodzilla was a subspecies of Godzilla that adapted to fly and live in outer space? Or maybe he was another member of Godzilla’s species that was captured and experimented on by aliens?
Speaking of which, Godzilla films have never shied away from involving aliens and other wacky sci-fi tropes. Reintroducing SpaceGodzilla could be an excellent vehicle for Legendary to also introduce aliens, and other cosmic threats, into the MonsterVerse.
MonsterVerse Pick #3 – Anguirus
Who could forget Anguirus? This smaller, spiky kaiju who resembles an ankylosaurus was the first monster that Godzilla ever battled against all the way back in 1955’s Godzilla Raids Again. Since then, he has appeared in several other Godzilla classics such as Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.
Although initially antagonistic towards Godzilla, Anguirus would end up becoming his ally in many battles. It seems appropriate to have The King of the Monsters’ first enemy, and eventual ally, return to the big screen. With a flashy new design, of course.
MonsterVerse Pick #1 – Dogora
Finally, a little wishful thinking. Dogora has the honor of being the only entry on this list that has never actually encountered Godzilla on screen. In fact, it only appeared in a single, self-titled solo film way back in 1964.
Dogora was a single-celled organism living in the Earth’s atmosphere. It was mutated to a massive size after coming into contact with a radiation pocket in the air. As most kaiju do, it then ensued to attack and destroy much of Japan. Despite never going toe-to-toe with Godzilla, Dogora technically exists within the original Showa timeline, making it fair game to appear in a future MonsterVerse film.
While I know this is a much more obscure pick, but if Legendary or even Toho would ever revive Dogora, I think it would be a unique threat for the King of the Monsters to face. I’ve always found Dogora’s design incredibly unique and eerie looking. Imagine an updated, modern take on this creature: a massive, amorphous body flying high above the world, with large writhing tentacles draping down to the earth. It’s a haunting image and one that modern film technology could certainly do justice.
What members of Godzilla’s MonsterVerse would you like to see return to the big screen? Let us know in the comments or over on Twitter!
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