What We Want To See In The Godzilla Vs. Kong Sequel
On March 20, 2022, it was seemingly confirmed via Australia’s State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk that a new entry to Legendary’s Monsterverse will begin filming later this year. With the latest Monsterverse film Godzilla vs. Kong becoming one of the biggest hits of 2021, a Kong: Skull Island anime in the works for Netflix, and Legendary recently confirming a spinoff series set in the Monsterverse that will be exclusive to Apple TV+, a new film seemed almost unavoidable.
Despite being called a “Godzilla vs. Kong sequel”, we do not know if this is a direct sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong or just a new entry in this kaiju cinematic universe since the Monsterversehas two lead monsters: Godzilla and Kong. While we are listing ten things we want from this film, we will devote four to Kong, four to Godzilla, and one where both will be together.
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4 Things We Want For A New Monsterverse King Kong Film
Kong: King of the Hollow Earth
One major plot point for Godzilla vs. Kong was that Kong had grown too large for his island home (that was being consumed by an evergrowing hurricane) so the kaiju tracking organization Monarch moved him to the Hollow Earth, an underground world where the kaiju or “Titans” originate. So if this Godzilla vs. Kong sequel would follow Kong (who is due for a proper sequel to Kong: Skull Island), having Kong be “king” of the Hollow Earth is a perfect premise for it.
In Godzilla vs. Kong, we only got a taste of the Hollow Earth with a few new creatures that Kong faced off. But if this film is a potentially Kong-focused one, you have an entire film to explore this new setting. Kong: Skull Island already gave us a very believable fictional ecosystem, so now the gloves should be off. Have Kong fight off against some wild-looking monsters and even bring back a few original Titans introduced throughout the Monsterverse.
Explore Kong and Jia’s Friendship
The highlight of Godzilla vs. Kong was Kong’s kinship with the deaf girl Jia (who was played wonderfully by Kaylee Hottle). Jia was said to be one of the last members of the natives of Skull Island known as the Iwi (whose fate has conflicting answers via tie-in media) and Kong essentially acts as her protector.
What made Jia one of the best human characters in the Monsterverseis she brings a refreshing spin of a human friend for Kong that isn’t the tired trope of “big ape loves pretty lady” we have seen in past King Kong films and King Kong ripoffs. Jia was the heart of Godzilla vs. Kong, so if any human character needs to return for this Godzilla vs. Kong sequel, it has to be her. The film could explore more on how they are the “last” of their kind and find kinship in that feeling of loneliness. Plus, now that Kong can speak sign language, we basically have moments where the two can actually talk to each other.
The History of Kong’s Species
Throughout the Monsterverseit has been said multiple times that Kong is the last surviving member of his race as his parents were killed by the reptilian Skullcrawlers as shown in the tie-in comic Skull Island: Birth of Kong. We also learned in Godzilla vs. Kong that they essentially drove off Godzilla from the Hollow Earth as we saw a massive temple devoted to or even built by Kong’s race. So there is a lot of lore to be explored for Kong.
Maybe a Godzilla vs. Kong sequel can explore more of the ancient civilizations that worshipped the Titans and how Kong’s race fit in the overall history of the Hollow Earth as apparently they too were driven off as they made Skull Island their home. Perhaps Kong’s race was actually conquerors and he has to rectify their past actions within the Hollow Earth. Or maybe they were the rightful heir to the “throne” and Kong has to keep a balance within it while Godzilla maintains balance on the surface. Either way, Kong’s lineage has a to unpack.
Let Jordan Vogt-Roberts Direct Again
Kong: Skull Island remains one of the best entries in both the Monsterverse and the kaiju genre and that is thanks to the Vietnam War aesthetics brought to it by director Jordan Vogt-Roberts. So if this Godzilla vs. Kong sequel is actually a proper sequel to Kong: Skull Island, then bringing back Vogt-Jordan is a must! That may be tricky however as Vogt-Jordan is currently working on Legendary’s live-action Gundam movie and the upcoming live-action Metal Gear Solid film so his plate is very full for the Godzilla vs. Kong sequel, but hey we can still dream a dream.
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4 Things We Want For A New Monsterverse Godzilla Film
Bring Back Mothra and Rodan
One thing that made the second Godzilla film of the Monsterverse, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, such a delight was the inclusions of the classic Toho kaiju Mothra and Rodan. Director Michael Dougherty reinvented these classic characters for modern audiences while remaining true to their Japanese roots, so seeing them return would be great for a Godzilla-centric Godzilla vs. Kong sequel.
While Mothra died fighting King Ghidorah in the climax of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, during the end credits we learned she laid a new egg as Dougherty later explained Monsterverse Mothra basically reincarnates by passing on her genetic memory when she asexually reproduces, essentially making her immortal. Rodan we know is alive and having him now seeing Godzilla as the Alpha Titan makes him a potential ally for Godzilla, so seeing a trio team up a la Ghidorah, The Three-Head Monster would be awesome to see!
Biollante
During an interview with CinemaTodayJapan, Michael Doughtery was asked which Toho kaiju he would like to see in a Godzilla-centric Monsterverse film. His answer was unsurprising as a Godzilla fan but as fellow Godzilla fans, we understand as he answered Biollante. For those unaware, Biollante is a plant kaiju that first appeared in the 1989 film Godzilla vs. Biollante. In the film, Biollante was a biological monstrosity that was the fusion of the DNA of Godzilla, a rose, and her creator’s dead daughter, who wanted to keep her memory alive.
Godzilla vs. Biollante is one of the most beloved Godzilla films of all time and Biollante herself is a major fan-favorite charter in her right. While it’s doubtful a Monsterverse incarnation would keep her bioengineering hybrid backstory, a plant-based Titan hasn’t been seen and could be a moral foil for Godzilla. In the Monsterversewe see the Titans can restore the balance of nature and promote ecological restoration, but what would happen if a Titan starts to overgrow and consume the environment? Godzilla’s role is to maintain balance and his first two films dealt with environmental themes, so Biollante would fit perfectly as an antagonist for this Godzilla vs. Kong sequel.
Hedorah
Another perfect antagonist for Monsterverse Godzilla is the Smog Monster himself: Hedorah. Appearing first in Godzilla vs. Hedroah (which celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year), Hedroah is one of the most popular villains of the Godzilla franchise. A colony of alien organisms that fused together as they consumed earth’s pollution, Hedroah would end up becoming one of Godzilla’s most tough opponents to fight against.
As said before, the Monsterverseand especially the Godzilla films deal heavily with themes centered on environmentalism. Whether it’s nuclear propagation, climate change, or pollution, these themes are deep-rooted into the history of Godzilla, so one antagonist perfect for those themes is Hedorah. Maybe Hedorah doesn’t have to be alien in origin, but its ties to pollution are essential and would be a nice way to honor the legacy of Yoshimitsu Bano, the man who directed Godzilla vs. Hedorah and helped start the production for Godzilla (2014), the first entry of the Monsterverse.
Gigan and Alien Invaders
Along with Biollante, another kaiju Michael Dougherty wanted to see in a new Monserverse Godzilla film is the cyborg alien Gigan. Making his debut in Godzilla vs. Gigan (which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year), Gigan is a cybernetically enhanced kaiju that is usually a pawn of whichever alien invaders that serves as his film appearance’s antagonist. In fact, the Monsterverseis long overdue for the classic Godzilla plot of alien invaders.
We know for a fact alien life exists in the Monsterversevia King Ghidorah, so the sky is the limit for what we can bring in. A Godzilla vs. Kong sequel could escalate things immensely by bringing in alien invaders and Gigan is the perfect figurehead for that invasion. Maybe bring in Mothra and Rodan to aid Godzilla as callbacks to the classic films that feature alien invasion plots such as Invasion of Astro-Monster and Godzilla vs. Gigan.
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What We Want From A Godzilla Vs. Kong Sequel
A Great Monster Movie
Last, all we really want from this Godzilla vs. Kong sequel, may it be Godzilla focused, Kong focused, or a direct sequel is for it to be a fun monster romp. The Monsterverse is one of the few cinematic universes post-MCU to be relatively successful from film to film. While some entries can be divisive to fans, we can agree it has lasted much longer than the dozens of failed cinematic universes that came and went (looking at you Dark Universe).
We just want that momentum to keep going. There are a lot of giant monster movies on the small and big screens. We just want kaiju media to continue to thrive within the zeitgeist.
What Do You Want To See In The Upcoming Godzilla vs. Kong Sequel?
What do you want to see in a Godzilla vs. Kong sequel? Do you want it to focus on Godzilla or Kong? Let us know on social media today!
