Will Legendary’s MonsterVerse End with GODZILLA VS KONG in 2020? Complex Rights Situation Analyzed
Josh Millican
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Legendary’s foray into the world of Godzilla, created by Japanese studio Toho in the 1950s, began in 2014 with Godzilla, continued in 2017 with Kong: Skull Island, and will advanc this May with the hotly-anticipated Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The next installment in the franchise, Godzilla vs Kong, is currently being filmed targeting a 2020 release date.
With all the hype, it’s hard to imagine King of the Monsters and Godzilla vs Kong won’t be mega-blockbusters, but it poses the question: What happens after 2020? Conventional thinking would suggest Legendary will want to continue the franchise as long as it remains profitable, but that might not be an option.
The issue is rights: Legendary has them for now, but Toho has merely loaned out Godzilla to the American studio, and it’s not an indefinite deal. One of our favorite UK film critics and academics, Mr. H, just released an extremely enlightening video essay on the topic. For help unraveling this complex scenario and its implications on the longevity of Legendary’s MonsterVerse, it’s a must-watch.
After giving Mr. H’s video a spin at the top of the article, check out the synopsis and trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters below.
Synopsis:
“Members of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch face off against a
battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with
Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah.
When these ancient super-species thought to be mere myths-rise again,
they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the
balance.”
Directed by Trick ‘r Treat and Krampus’ Michael Dougherty, who co-wrote the film with Zach Shields, Godzilla: King of the Monsters stars Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Aisha Hinds, and Zhang Ziyi.
This film has been rated PG-13 for sequences of monster action violence and destruction, and for some language. Look for Godzilla: King of the Monsters to demolish US box offices beginning May 31st.
Are you excited to check out Godzilla: King of the Monsters in May and Godzilla vs Kong in 2020? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
