Monsterverse
Official franchise logo
Created by	Legendary Pictures[1][2] Warner Bros. Pictures[1][2]
Original work	Godzilla (2014)[3]
Owner	Warner Bros. Pictures[4]
Years	2014–present
Based on	Godzilla byToho Co., Ltd. King Kong byMerian C. Cooper
Films and television
Film(s)	Godzilla (2014) Kong: Skull Island (2017) Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) Godzilla x Kong: Supernova (2027)
Television series	Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023–present)
Animated series	Skull Island (2023)
Audio
Soundtrack(s)	Godzilla Kong: Skull Island Godzilla: King of the Monsters Godzilla vs. Kong Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

TheMonsterverse (also stylized asMonsterVerse) is an Americanmultimedia franchise andshared universe featuringGodzilla andKing Kong; other characters owned and created byToho Co., Ltd also appear throughout the series. The franchise consists of five films and two television series that have been produced byLegendary Pictures, withWarner Bros. Pictures co-financing and distributing the films and the TV series being released for streaming onNetflix andApple TV+.

The franchise has received a generally positive critical reception and has grossed $2.525 billion worldwide at the box office.

WriterMax Borenstein stated that the Monsterverse did not begin as a franchise but as an American reboot ofGodzilla. Borenstein creditsLegendary Entertainment's founder and then CEOThomas Tull as the one responsible for the Monsterverse, having acquired the rights to Godzilla and negotiated the complicated rights to King Kong. Tull had offered Borenstein the opportunity to write the first draft forKong: Skull Island, with the goal to establish Kong in the same universe as Legendary'sGodzilla film. Tull's vision was for the films to one day lead toGodzilla vs. Kong.^[5]

Legendary confirmed at the 2014San Diego Comic-Con that it had acquired the licensing rights toMothra,Rodan, andKing Ghidorah fromToho Co., Ltd. and revealed concept footage with the closing title cards reading "Conflict: inevitable. Let them fight".^[6] In September 2015, Legendary announced that the filmKong: Skull Island would not be developed withUniversal Pictures. Instead, it would be developed withWarner Bros., which sparked media speculation that Godzilla and Kong would appear in a film together.^[7][8]

In October 2015, Legendary announced plans to unite Godzilla and Kong in a film titledGodzilla vs. Kong, set for a 2020 release date. Legendary planned to create a shared cinematic franchise "centered around Monarch" (the secret government agency which debuted in 2014'sGodzilla) and that "brings together Godzilla and Legendary’s King Kong in an ecosystem of othergiant super-species, both classic and new".^[2] Later in October, it was announced thatKong: Skull Island would have references to Monarch.^[9]

In May 2016, Warner Bros. announced thatGodzilla vs. Kong would be released on May 29, 2020, later pushed back to May 21, 2021, and thatGodzilla: King of the Monsters would be pushed back from its original June 8, 2018 release date to March 22, 2019,^[10] however the film was later pushed back again to May 31, 2019. In October 2016, Legendary announced thatGodzilla: King of the Monsters would be filmed at its parent company Wanda'sOriental Movie Metropolis facility in Qingdao, China, along withPacific Rim: Uprising.^[11] That same month, it was revealed that Legendary was planning a writers room to create their Godzilla–Kong cinematic universe, with Alex Garcia overseeing the project for Legendary.^[12]

In January 2017,Thomas Tull, founder of Legendary, resigned from the company but would remain as producer for the Godzilla–Kong series, which was revealed as the "Monsterverse".^[13] In March 2017, Legendary assembled a writers room led byTerry Rossio to develop the story forGodzilla vs. Kong.^[14]

Legendary's license to Godzilla expired in 2020,^[15] however it has since been renewed, as Toho announced in July 2022 that Godzilla would be featured in a sequel toGodzilla vs. Kong.^[16] In January 2022, Legendary announced plans for a live-action TV series centered on Godzilla and other Titans.^[17]

Per the contract between Toho and Legendary, the former is contractually prohibited from releasing Toho-producedGodzilla films in the same year that Legendary would release their ownGodzilla films.^[18] The contract, however, does not extend to television; in 2021, Toho released theanime TV seriesGodzilla Singular Point a few weeks after Legendary releasedGodzilla vs. Kong, and in 2023, Toho released the filmGodzilla Minus One in the same month that Legendary'sMonarch: Legacy of Monsters was released.

On December 17, 2021,Summit Kaiju International filed a lawsuit against Legendary for copyright infringement, alleging that Legendary's character Methuselah was copied and renamed from their mascot Batholith. A judge denied Legendary's motion to dismiss the case, stating that Summit had provided enough evidence for similarities between both characters.^[19] In December 2022, the case was settled with Summit filing a "Notice of Voluntary Dismissal."^[20] Jeremy Allen Soles, the founder of Summit Kaiju International and the owner of X-Plus North America, was given an acknowledgment in the end credits of the 2024 filmGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

The film reimagines Godzilla's origins and is set 15 years after a nuclear meltdown in Japan which was caused by giant parasitic creatures, known as "MUTOs" (acronym for Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism). As two MUTOs ravage the countryside in order to reproduce, they awaken an even larger ancient alpha predator, known as "Godzilla", whose existence has been kept secret by the U.S. government since 1954. The film introduces Godzilla, the MUTOs, and the Monarch organization to the Monsterverse.

In 2004, director Yoshimitsu Banno acquired permission fromToho to produce a short IMAXGodzilla film which was in development for several years until the project was eventually turned over to Legendary Pictures.^[21][22] In March 2010, Legendary announced to have acquired the rights to Godzilla for a feature film reboot.^[1] In January 2011,Gareth Edwards was announced as the director for the film.^[23] The film was co-produced withWarner Bros. Pictures with filming completed in 2013 in Canada and the United States for release in 2014.^[24]Godzilla was released on May 16, 2014, to positive reviews,^[25][26] and was a box office success, grossing $529 million worldwide against a budget of $160 million.^[27]

Set in 1973, the film follows a team of scientists and Vietnam War soldiers traveling to an uncharted island in the Pacific where they encounter terrifying creatures and the mighty Kong. The film introduces Kong, the Mother Longlegs,^[28] the Sker Buffalo,^[28] the Mire Squid,^[28] the Leafwing,^[28] the Psychovulture,^[28] the Spore Mantis,^[28] the Skull Devil,^[29] and the Skullcrawlers to the Monsterverse and apost-credits scene introduces Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah to the Monsterverse.^[30] The Skull Devil was originally trademarked as "Ramarak the Skullcrawler" until it was abandoned in September 2017.^[31]

In July 2014 at San Diego Comic-Con, Legendary announced a King Kong origin story, initially titledSkull Island, with a release date of November 4, 2016, andUniversal Pictures distributing.^[32] In September 2014,Jordan Vogt-Roberts was announced as the film's director.^[33] In September 2015, Legendary moved development of the film from Universal Pictures to Warner Bros. to create an expanded cinematic universe.^[34]Principal photography began on October 19, 2015, inHawaii andVietnam.Kong: Skull Island was released on March 10, 2017, to positive reviews,^[35][36] and was a box office success, grossing $566 million worldwide against a budget of $185 million.^[37] The film received a nomination forBest Visual Effects at the90th Academy Awards.^[38]

In the film, eco-terrorists releaseKing Ghidorah, who awakens other monsters known as "Titans" across the world, forcingGodzilla andMothra to surface and engage Ghidorah andRodan in a decisive battle. The film changes the monsters' designation from "MUTOs" to "Titans".^[39] The film introduces Scylla, Methuselah, Behemoth, and the Queen MUTO to the Monsterverse.^[40] Off-screen, the film introduces Baphomet, Typhon, Mokele-Mbembe, Tiamat, Abaddon, Leviathan, and Bunyip to the Monsterverse.^[40][41]

Prior to announcing a shared cinematic universe between Godzilla and Kong, Legendary originally intended to produce aGodzilla trilogy, withGareth Edwards attached to direct all films.^[42] However, Edwards left the sequel in May 2016 to work on smaller scale projects.^[43] In January 2017,Michael Dougherty was announced as the director and co-writer for the film.^[44]Principal photography began in June 2017, inAtlanta,Georgia and wrapped in September 2017.^[45] The film was released on May 31, 2019, to mixed reviews,^[a] and was a box office disappointment,^[52][53][54] grossing $387 million worldwide against a budget between $170–200 million.^[55][56]

In the film, Kong clashes with Godzilla as humans lure the ape into theHollow Earth to retrieve a power source for a weapon to stop Godzilla's mysterious rampages. The film introducesMechagodzilla,^[57] the Warbat,^[58] the Hellhawk,^[59] and Titanus Doug^[60] to the Monsterverse.

The project was announced in October 2015 when Legendary announced plans for a shared cinematic universe between Godzilla and King Kong. The film's writers room was assembled in March 2017 andAdam Wingard was announced as the director in May 2017. Principal photography began in November 2018 inHawaii andAustralia and concluded in April 2019. After being delayed from a November 2020 release date due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the film was theatrically released internationally on March 24, 2021,^[61][62] and was released in the United States on March 31, 2021, where it was released simultaneously in theaters and onHBO Max.^[63] The film received generally positive reviews and was a box office success, breaking pandemic records and grossing $470 million. It was also a streaming hit, becoming the most successful launch item in HBO Max's history until it was overtaken byMortal Kombat.^[64][65]

Godzilla and Kong reunite against an undiscovered threat hidden deep within the Earth that challenges the existence of humans and Titans alike.^[66] The film introduces the Skar King,^[67] Suko,^[68] and Shimo^[69] to the Monsterverse.

Following the box office and streaming success ofGodzilla vs. Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic, Legendary announced a sequel in March 2022 and that filming would commence later in the year inGold Coast, Queensland and other locations inSouth East Queensland.^[70] In May 2022, it was announced that Wingard would return to direct and thatDan Stevens had been cast as the lead. Wingard and Stevens had previously worked together onThe Guest.^[71] The film was theatrically released internationally on March 27, 2024, and in the United States on March 29, 2024.^[72][73]

In March 2024, prior to the release ofGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Wingard expressed interest in returning to direct a third film featuring Godzilla and Kong, but noted that "it just depends on howGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire does and how things kind of shape out."^[74] In April 2024, following the release and successful response toThe New Empire, producer and Legendary's chairman of worldwide production Mary Parent commented on the film's box office success: "This is certainly an exciting result. We are in a good position to continue the journey, but let’s see howGodzilla x Kong unfolds."^[75]

On May 10, 2024, Legendary announced that a follow-up toGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire has entered development and would be written byDavid Callaham, who wrote the early drafts toGodzilla (2014)^[76] The following week, Legendary announced that Wingard would not return to direct due to scheduling conflicts, but had expressed interest in having Wingard return.^[77] In June 2024, Legendary announcedGrant Sputore (director ofI Am Mother) as the new director and that the film would be released on March 26, 2027.^[78][79] Pre-production began in January 2025, with performers being cast such asKaitlyn Dever,Jack O'Connell,Delroy Lindo, Dan Stevens (reprises his role from the previous film),Matthew Modine,Alycia Debnam-Carey, andSam Neill.^[80][81]

In November 2025,Writers Guild of America published the final feature credits; Callaham received a Story By and Screenplay By credit and Green received a Screenplay by credit. The credits also revealed thatSpaceGodzilla would be featured in the film.^[82][83]

In October 2017,Steven S. DeKnight (director and co-writer ofPacific Rim: Uprising) noted that there have been discussions about a cross-over between the Monsterverse andPacific Rim franchise, however, he iterated it was all hypothetical possibilities.^[84]Guillermo del Toro (director and co-writer ofPacific Rim) had also expressed interest inPacific Rim crossing over with the Monsterverse.^[85] In March 2019, when asked about the future of the Monsterverse, Garcia stated, "It's one brick at a time, each piece has to be as good as it can be, so right now it's all focused on this [Godzilla: King of the Monsters andGodzilla vs. Kong]. But could there be? Yeah, that's the hope if the movies turn out really well."^[86]

In February 2021, Wingard stated, "I know where we could go potentially with future films." However, he noted that the Monsterverse was created "to a certain degree" to lead towardsGodzilla vs. Kong.^[87] Wingard added that the Monsterverse is at a "crossroads", stating, "It’s really at the point where audiences have to kind of step forward and vote for more of these things. If this movie is a success obviously they will continue forward."^[88]

In April 2024, Legendary announced that under their new contract withApple TV (at that time Apple TV+) they will proceed with a second season ofMonarch: Legacy of Monsters, as well as multiple spin-off series.^[89] The following month, Legendary announced that development has commenced on a sequel toGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire, withGrant Sputore directing and slated for March 26, 2027.^[76][78] In October 2024, it was announced that a sequel to the cross-over comic seriesJustice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong would be released in 2025.^[90] In March 2025, Legendary Comics announced a partnership with Titan Comics to expandSkull Island into a comic series titledReturn to Skull Island. The first issues ofReturn to Skull Island andJustice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong 2 were released on June 4, 2025.^[3][91]

In December 2025, Legendary and Apple TV announced plans for a spin-off series focused on young Lee Shaw, withWyatt Russell to reprise the role. The series will be set in 1984 and follow Shaw as he attempts to stop theSoviet Union from unleashing a new Titan on the U.S.Joby Harold, who oversees the Monsterverse on the Apple TV side, was named the series' showrunner. The series is also to feature Godzilla, with Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita serving as executive producers on behalf of Toho.^[92]

In January 2021,Legendary Television andNetflix announced plans for animated series titledSkull Island. The project is developed and written byBrian Duffield, who also serves as co-executive producer with Jacob Robinson. Produced byPowerhouse Animation, JP and Legendary Television, the series was released worldwide on Netflix on June 22, 2023.^[95][96] The series introduces Annie's Dog and theKraken to the Monsterverse, as well as other unnamed monsters.^[97]

In October 2023, Duffield stated that the script for the second season had been completed; while creatives were waiting for an official season two renewalgreen-lighting from Netflix.^[98]

In January 2022, Legendary announced thatApple TV (at that time Apple TV+) had ordered a live-action series featuring Godzilla and other Titans, withChris Black serving as showrunner; Black andMatt Fraction serve as co-creators and executive producers. Produced by Safehouse Pictures,Toho Co., Ltd., Mikfred Criminal Masterminds, Chris Black Broadcasting System andLegendary Television, the series premiered on November 17, 2023, on Apple TV and consists of 10 episodes.^[17][99]

In April 2024, the series was renewed for a second season.^[89] Photos on social media verified that principal photography on the second season began in July 2024.^[100] In November 2025, Legendary and Apple TV made several announcements, including thatKurt Russell would return for season two, and a teaser trailer revealing Kong's involvement, and the series' February 2026 airdate.^[93][94]

The series debuts new monsters to the franchise: the first season introduces the Ion Dragon and Frost Vark,^[101][102] while the second season introduces Titan X.^[103]

ForGodzilla (2014),Alexandre Desplat was announced as the film's composer in August 2013.^[141] DirectorGareth Edwards chose Desplat after creating a music playlist, stating, "I dragged and dropped all my favorite soundtracks, and the person who got high score was Alexandre Desplat." Desplat accepted the job because he was impressed with Edwards' directorial debutMonsters (2010) and had never composed a monster film, adding that he always attempted to accept disparate films. Desplat had organized a large orchestra that he described as "stupidly big, as big as Godzilla". He explained that the orchestra had to be big in order to avoid filling gaps in the score with electronics.^[142] Desplat had described his score as "non-stop fortissimo, with lots of brass, Japanese drums, and electric violin". He echoed the film's Japanese origins and influence by applying a shakuhachi bamboo flute and taiko drums throughout the score. While the themes byAkira Ifukube, composer of variousGodzilla films, were not used for the film, Edwards likened Desplat's score as "very much in the same tone of Akira". However, Desplat paid homage to Ifukube during the track "Godzilla!" by flaring the brass to reflect sounds similar to Ifukube's themes.^[143][144]

ForKong: Skull Island (2017),Henry Jackman blended 1970spsychedelicguitars into the score, which was considered to be a combination of mixingelectronic sounds withsymphony orchestra.^[145] Jackman stated that "The great thing about a monster movie is that it opens the door to use the symphony orchestra in its most sumptuous way. [Director]Jordan Vogt-Roberts was happy to celebrate the gravity and history that comes with a full orchestra, but we also explored less traditional elements. That's a field day for a composer". Vogt-Roberts also used rock music from the Vietnam-era and hits from the 70s, stating, "this provides a striking dichotomy, sets the tone and gives us great moments of fun".^[146]

ForGodzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), it was announced during Comic-Con 2018 thatBear McCreary would compose the score and utilize Ifukube's themes and Yūji Koseki's Mothra theme. He chose to adapt Ifukube and Koseki's themes to form a "connection between Ifukube’s uniquely brilliant style and the aesthetics of modern blockbusters". For the film's soundtrack, McCreary produced a cover ofBlue Öyster Cult's "Godzilla", that featuredSerj Tankian on vocals, as well asBrendon Small,Gene Hoglan, and other members ofDethklok contributing to the cover. McCreary described the cover as "the most audacious piece of music" he had produced in his career.^[147][148]

ForGodzilla vs. Kong (2021),Tom Holkenborg was announced as the film's composer in June 2020.^[149] During a meeting in 2018, Holkenborg admitted to directorAdam Wingard to being a Godzilla fan and had composed a Godzilla theme recreationally. Wingard chose not to recycle Ifukube's theme, feeling it was "insincere" since he associated them with Toho's Godzilla. Instead, Wingard wanted to use new themes that embraced the Monsterverse's Godzilla while honoring its influences. Holkenborg requested a bass drum roughly ten feet in diameter, but the builder was only able to scale it down to eight feet.^[150][151] He wanted to create a Godzilla theme that "lived and breathed" the history behind monster themes and that was slow and sluggish to reflect Godzilla.^[152][153] Lowerbrass and bigtympanis were used to underscore Godzilla's power.^[154] For Kong's theme, Holkenborg used an "organic approach". The sound was interwoven with electronic and sound design elements. The score began with melody and "got colors and orchestration and different types of electronic instruments with it".^[155]

ForGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024), Tom Holkenborg was announced to return to compose the film's score in August 2022, after previously doing so forGodzilla vs. Kong.^[156] In December 2023, it was announced that Antonio Di Iorio would co-compose the score with Holkenborg.^[157] A single was released on March 13, 2024, byWaterTower Music, titled “Main Title Theme.” The full soundtrack album was released on March 22, 2024.^[158]

Legendary's Godzilla was featured as a playable character in Bandai Namco's 2014 video gameGodzilla as "Hollywood Godzilla".^[159][160] In 2017, a short virtual reality experience titledKong VR: Destination Skull Island was made available at 1500 Samsung retail demo locations, in 15 AMC theater locations, and Samsung VR stores.^[161] Godzilla and Kong were featured in cross-over events forPUBG Mobile,^[162]World of Warships,^[163]Godzilla: Battle Line,^[164]Call of Duty: Warzone,^[165] andFortnite (which also featured Mechagodzilla).^[166] ForGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Legendary and Warner Bros. collaborated withRoblox for an interactive trailer via the "obby" that users can interface with characters from the film.^[167]

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