Untitled Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire sequel | |
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Directed by | Grant Sputore |
Written by |
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Based on | Godzilla and Mothra by Toho Co., Ltd. |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Dan Mindel |
Edited by | Josh Schaeffer |
Music by | Henry Jackman |
Production company | |
Distributed by |
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Release date |
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Country | United States |
Language | English |
The untitled Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire sequel is an upcoming American monster film directed by Grant Sputore and written by Dave Callaham and Michael Lloyd Green. Produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the sequel to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) and the sixth film in the Monsterverse franchise, also serving as the 39th film of the Godzilla franchise and 14th in the King Kong franchise. The film stars Kaitlyn Dever, Dan Stevens, Jack O'Connell, Matthew Modine, Delroy Lindo, Alycia Debnam-Carey, and Sam Neill.
Following the success of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire in March 2024, a sequel was announced the following May with Callaham set to write the screenplay. Sputore was hired to direct the following month. Principal photography commenced in April 2025 at Village Roadshow Studios in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 26, 2027.
Prior to the sequel's formal announcement, filmmaker Adam Wingard (director of Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire ) expressed interest in returning for a third film featuring both Godzilla and Kong, but noted that "it just depends on how Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire does and how things kind of shape out." [1] Wingard iterated that ideas had been discussed as to where to take the franchise onward and that he would take a "different approach" on the next film if he was invited back to direct. [2] [3] He also suggested that the next film could potentially follow Godzilla primarily and explore his perspective in the same way that The New Empire followed Kong. [4]
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was released on March 29, 2024 and became the highest grossing film in the Monsterverse franchise, grossing $571.9 million against a budget between $135–150 million. [5] [6] Commenting on the film's box office success, producer and Legendary's chairman of worldwide production Mary Parent said, "This is certainly an exciting result. We are in a good position to continue the journey, but let’s see how Godzilla x Kong unfolds." [7]
On May 10, 2024, Legendary announced that David Callaham, who wrote the early drafts for Godzilla (2014), would write a follow-up to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. [8] The following week, Legendary announced that Wingard would not return to direct due to scheduling conflicts and commitments to the upcoming film Onslaught , but expressed interest in having Wingard return one day. [9] In June 2024, Legendary announced Grant Sputore (director of I Am Mother ) as the new director and that the film would be released on March 26, 2027. [10] [11] On January 24, 2025, Kaitlyn Dever was the first actress to be cast in the film. [12] A month later, Jack O’Connell and Delroy Lindo were cast alongside with Dever, while Dan Stevens was confirmed to return. [13] [14] In March, The Hollywood Reporter stated that Matthew Modine had been added to the cast and filming of the sequel is expected to commence in April 2025. [15] In April, Alycia Debnam-Carey and Sam Neill joined the cast. [16] [17]
On March 5, 2025, The Hollywood Reporter stated that principal photography on the sequel was expected to begin in April 2025 in Australia. [15] On April 4, Dever told Seven News' Sally Bowrey that filming of the sequel had started in Queensland. [18] [19] According to IF Magazine on April 23, Screen Queensland has disclosed that filming is ongoing at Village Roadshow Studios. [19] Stefan Dechant is working as the production designer, Dan Mindel as the cinematographer, Kelly Port as the visual effects supervisor, Michael Lloyd Green as the co-screenwriter, Henry Jackman as the composer, and Josh Schaeffer as the editor. [19]
The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 26, 2027. [20]