Warner Bros is really going all-in on the giant monster movies* following the success of last year’s Godzilla, which managed to be fantastic despite human perception filter Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Since that film’s release a sequel’s been greenlit and Legendary Pictures has moved Kong: Skull Island from Universal to WB. It seems Yakko, Wakko and Dot’s house isn’t anywhere near the biggest thing on the Warners’ lot anymore.
When the Kong move was announced, it was not a far leap to assume that King Kong and Godzilla would be facing off at some point in the future, but now we know when it’ll happen.
Kong: Skull Island starts filming next week for a March 10, 2017 release. Godzilla 2 (also featuring Mothra, King Ghidorah and Rodan) is set for June 8, 2018. The Big Two finally meet in Godzilla vs Kong in 2020.
The studio’s plan is to create a giant monster universe (what a bold and original concept!) centered around Ken Watanabe’s Project Monarch and its study of giant monsters.
Of course this isn’t the first time these titans have done battle. They first fought in Toho’s 1962 King Kong vs Godzilla. Interestingly, that film was Godzilla’s third appearance, just as this is the third appearance of the new Godzilla. Doesn’t really mean anything, just a fun piece of trivia.
You can read the press release in full here.
* – Well, almost all-in. Pacific Rim 2 is currently stalled.
