If cinema has taught us anything, it’s that you can’t keep a good monster down — and with the impending arrival of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, that lesson continues to be proven true.
As the latest instalment of Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures’ MonsterVerse — a cinematic world that has so far spanned five movies, two TV projects and plenty of big CGI monsters — this new project looks set to push their developing movie lore even further with more teeth, claws and big-beast battles.
What else do we know about the sequel to 2021’s Godzilla Vs. Kong? Let’s take a look.
When will Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire be released?
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will smash its way into a cinema near you on Friday, 29 March, having moved up a month from its previous release date of Friday, 12 April.
What are the reviews like?
Following a handful of early preview screenings, the first reviews for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire have started to make their way online.
Digital Spy seemed to enjoy it, calling it the most enjoyable MonsterVerse instalment yet and a “consistently entertaining, huge-scale blockbuster.”
Others weren’t as enthralled, with The Telegraph labelling it “thunderously boring” and Deadline saying it “seems especially Hollywoodised” in the wake of the Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One.
Read more reviews below:
Digital Spy: Godzilla x Kong is the most enjoyable MonsterVerse movie yet (4-min read)
The Telegraph: It’s monsters fighting – and that’s it (3-min read)
Deadline: The Titans Of The Monsterverse Join Forces Against Evil But It Is All Still Just More Of The Same Stomp Fest (5-min read)
IndieWire: Titans Team Up in Goofy Sequel That’s Always Silly but Rarely Fun (10-min read)
Is there a trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire?
The latest trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire landed in February and featured a whole host of surprises — including a mechanical battle arm and the arrival of a baby Kong.
Watch it below:
The official trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was released by Warner Bros. in December 2023. Watch it above.
The trailer shows Kong’s meeting with another creature — seemingly a titan — and the threat of a formidable enemy.
There is also a tease of a team up between Godzilla and Kong to take on a mutual enemy, though whether this is the fearsome mystery titan or something else is unclear.
Before that a tiny teaser was shared online that confirmed the movie’s title while delivering some ominous vibes.
Despite only lasting half a minute, we already get the sense that something big is coming to knock Godzilla and Kong off their perch. Could it be a new Titan? Certainly looks like it.
What is the plot of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire?
Adam Wingard returns to the director’s chair for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire after helming 2021’s Godzilla Vs. Kong, a monster mash-up movie that was a home-release hit following its debut during the pandemic.
This time around, our two titular Titans (the MonsterVerse’s label for giant creatures that love a scuffle) will face their biggest challenge to date: a new giant creature lurking within the Earth that looks ready to break free and threaten both their world and ours.
According to the film’s official synopsis: “This latest entry follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own.
“The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.”
Who is in the cast of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire?
Characters from Wingard’s first film will return for its sequel, including conspiracy theorist Bernie Hayes, played by Bryan Tyree Henry, and Titan expert Dr. Ileen Andrews, played by Rebecca Hall.
Joining them for this new adventure is former Downton Abbey and The Guest star Dan Stevens in an as-yet-undisclosed role. Will he be a hero or up to no good? Only time will tell.
Elsewhere, we can expect appearances from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings actor Fala Chen, Hunt For The Wilderpeople’s Rachel House and Chernobyl actor Alex Ferns but so far, none of their roles have been revealed.
Newcomer Kaylee Hottle will also star as a character named Jia.
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire will be released in cinemas on Friday, 29 March