And now, it has proved successful enough that the company has commissioned a spin-off, one that will revolve around Colonel Lee Shaw, the character played in his younger days by Wyatt Russell.
KhCJbiUfRB2FfElVhqYBk3
The new series doesn’t yet have a title, but we do wonder if this means there won’t be any opportunity for the older version of Shaw –– played by Russell’s father, Kurt Russell –– to show up.
What’s the story of the new ‘Monarch’ spin-off series?
Wyatt Russell in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ coming soon to Apple TV+.
The show will focus on Russell’s Colonel Shaw, an American operative who in 1984 went on a secret mission behind enemy lines in an attempt to stop the Soviets from unleashing a horrific new Titan big enough to destroy the U.S. and turn the tide of the Cold War.
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ Spin-off: the showrunner and studio speak
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ coming soon to Apple TV+.
Here’s Joby Harold’s statement on the new show:
“I could not feel more privileged to be a part of building out this wildly iconic universe,” says Harold. “Apple and Legendary have been exemplary partners throughout this process, and we will continue to bring these Titans of cinematic history to audiences with the reverence they deserve.”
And this was the comment from Apple TV’s head of international development Morgan Wandell:
“Viewers around the world haven’t been able to get enough of ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ since its global debut, and we cannot wait to unleash the electrifying new stories that Joby and the entire cast and creative team have been working on. With Joby at the helm, and alongside our terrific partners at Legendary, this new spinoff will kick off an epic Monsterverse expansion that brings audiences even closer to their favorite Titans along with fantastic character-driven storytelling.”
When will the ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ spin-off series be on screen?
Wyatt Russell in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.
There has been no launch date reported for the new series, but the second season of ‘Monarch’ will arrive on Apple TV on February 27.
(Left) Sam Neill in ‘Jurassic Park’. Photo: Universal Pictures. (Right) 2021’s ‘Godzilla vs. Kong.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Preview:
Sam Neill is the latest recruit for the latest Godzilla and King Kong ‘Monsterverse’ movie.
Grant Sputore is directing the new movie.
Dan Stevens will be back as vet Trapper.
Given that he’s one of the key figures in the ‘Jurassic Park’ franchise (and who popped back up for ‘Jurassic World: Dominion,’ you might think that Sam Neill would want to avoid trouble with giant beasties in his cinematic career.
Yet here he is again, not back with the genetically returned dinosaurs this time, but instead taking his chances running around with another massive reptile –– Godzilla, who will be back on screens with best pal/frenemy King Kong for the next, still-to-be-officially-titled Monsterverse movie from Legendary and Warner Bros.
iorbgD3nwIbPk8lqvPIdr
Deadline reports that Neill has joined the cast of the new movie, which is now in production.
The movie followed 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 of a monstrous white ape hidden within our world, challenging their very existence –– and our own.
It delved 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.
The new, untitled effort is still mostly being kept under wraps, but according to the first official details, it’ll follow “several new human characters alongside the beloved and iconic Titans Godzilla and Kong as they face off against a cataclysmic world-ending threat.”
Yep, apparently, there are still some giant threats lurking out there; so the big ape and the giant lizard will have to spring into action once again. But at least they have new some human friends (and potentially foes) to spend time with!
And back in January, Deadline reported that the movie saw its first piece of casting as Kaitlyn Dever locked in a deal to star.
Best known for her roles in TV limited series ‘Dopesick’ and the 2019 movie ‘Booksmart,’ Dever has a key role in the second season of HBO’s ‘The Last of Us,’ which just returned to screens.
Kaitlyn Dever in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2. Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Details on her character are also, like much of the movie, a mystery, though apparently it represents a renewed push to add in solid characters, which has been a common complaint of especially some of the more recent Monsterverse efforts.
As with Dever and Modine, we don’t yet know anyone is playing, but Dan Stevens is confirmed to reprise his role as Trapper, the cocky, thrill-seeking veterinarian who helps Kong when the giant ape is injured.
Where else have I seen Sam Neill?
(from left) Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) and Kayla Watts (DeWanda Wise) in Jurassic World Dominion, co-written and directed by Colin Trevorrow.
As we mentioned above, Neill may still be best known for his role as warm-but-grouchy paleontologist Alan Grant in various ‘Jurassic’ movies.
Yet the versatile actor has enjoyed a long, successful career hopping between the giant likes of those blockbusters and more indie work.
Already around for a decade, Legendary’s Monsterverse follows humanity’s battle to survive in a world facing a catastrophic new reality –– the monsters of our myths and legends are real.
The Monsterverse has grossed more than $2.5 billion at the global box office and has expanded onto smaller screens via ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ for Apple TV+, which has been renewed for a second season.
When will the new Monsterverse movie be on screens?
The movie is currently scheduled for release on March 26th, 2027. Let’s hope theaters have time to reinforce their walls. And that it doesn’t inspire kaiju to start their own version of the ‘Minecraft’ audience chaos when it opens.
Matthew Modine will be part of the cast for the ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ sequel.
His character is a mystery for now.
Grant Sputore is in the director’s chair.
As Legendary and Warner Bros. look to keep the Monsterverse marching onwards, the latest movie in the ever-expanding creature feature franchise is stomping towards production on its latest installment, with cameras ready to roll in Australia starting next month.
Just last month, we learned that Dan Stevens would be returning to play Trapper, the cocky, Hawaiian shirt-sporting vet who helps treat King Kong when the giant beast is injured.
Now, per Deadline, Matthew Modine is also joining the new movie, playing a character whose motivations are a mystery.
Could he be a wrong ‘un, like Modine’s last big genre effort, ‘Stranger Things,’ where he played a nefarious scientist? Or possibly a benevolent type who just wants to help the other human characters from becoming monster-bait.
If we’re honest, we could picture the actor as a shady higher-up within the Monarch organization that monitors monster developments.
The movie followed 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 of a monstrous white ape hidden within our world, challenging their very existence –– and our own.
It delved 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.
The new, untitled effort is still mostly being kept under wraps, but according to the first official details, it’ll follow “several new human characters alongside the beloved and iconic Titans Godzilla and Kong as they face off against a cataclysmic world-ending threat.”
Yep, apparently, there are still some giant threats lurking out there; so the big ape and the giant lizard will have to spring into action once again. At least Kong will know his teeth will be taken care of…
And back in January, Deadline reported that the movie saw its first piece of casting as Kaitlyn Dever locked in a deal to star.
Best known for her roles in TV limited series ‘Dopesick’ and the 2019 movie ‘Booksmart,’ Dever will next star in the Netflix limited series ‘Apple Cider Vinegar,’ and will also show up in the second season of HBO’s ‘The Last of Us.’
Details on her character are also, like much of the movie, a mystery, though apparently it represents a renewed push to add in solid characters, which has been a common complaint of especially some of the more recent Monsterverse efforts.
Modine is a veteran actor who certainly scored a new generation of fans thanks to ‘Stranger Things’ but he’s probably still best known for his role as Private Joker in Stanley Kubrick’s Vietnam War epic ‘Full Metal Jacket.’
On TV, in addition to ‘Stranger Things,’ he’s popped up in ‘The West Wing,’ ‘Weeds,’ ‘Proof’ and, most recently, he was seen opposite Robert De Niro in Netflix thriller series ‘Zero Day.’
What has happened with the Monsterverse so far?
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ coming soon to Apple TV+.
Already around for a decade, Legendary’s Monsterverse follows humanity’s battle to survive in a world facing a catastrophic new reality –– the monsters of our myths and legends are real.
The Monsterverse has grossed more than $2.5 billion at the global box office and has expanded onto smaller screens via ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ for Apple TV+, which has been renewed for a second season.
When will the new Monsterverse movie be on screens?
The movie is currently scheduled for release on March 26th, 2027. So if you hear rumbling around that time, chances are it’s because some massive monster is headed to your local cinema.
Dan Stevens is returning for a new Monsterverse movie.
He played Kong dentist Trapper in ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.’
Grant Sputore is in the director’s chair this time.
Emboldened by the success of last year’s ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,’ (it earned more than $571 million at the worldwide box office), Legendary is full speed ahead expanding its “Monsterverse” cinematic universe revolving around the likes of Godzilla, King Kong and others (Gamera is still waiting for his spotlight. Justice for Gamera!)
PX01ucUebc3N5sFufDFEA5
The next movie doesn’t yet have an announced title, but it’ll continue the story introduced in that film and there will be at least one human character continuing over.
Trapper, you may recall, was introduced wearing a loose Hawaiian shirt over a t-shirt, in ‘Godzilla x Kong’ doing dangerous dental work on Kong and replacing the big ape’s infected tooth.
This laidback veterinarian soon ends up joining the other characters on an expedition into Hollow Earth, an area that is the home to gigantic and monstrous creatures.
Stevens, of course, was brought aboard by his occasional collaborator, director Adam Wingard. Since handling the last two movies, though, Wingard has chosen not to return for this one.
Instead, Grant Sputore is in the director’s chair.
The movie followed 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 of a monstrous white ape hidden within our world, challenging their very existence –– and our own.
It delved 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.
The new, untitled effort is still mostly being kept under wraps, but according to the first official details, it’ll follow “several new human characters alongside the beloved and iconic Titans Godzilla and Kong as they face off against a cataclysmic world-ending threat.”
Yep, apparently, there are still some giant threats lurking out there; so the big ape and the giant lizard will have to spring into action once again. At least Kong will know his teeth will be taken care of…
And last week, Deadline reported that the movie saw its first piece of casting as Kaitlyn Dever locked in a deal to star.
Best known for her roles in TV limited series ‘Dopesick’ and the 2019 movie ‘Booksmart,’ Dever will next star in the Netflix limited series ‘Apple Cider Vinegar,’ and will also show up in the second season of HBO’s ‘The Last of Us.’
Details on her character are also, like much of the movie, a mystery, though apparently it represents a renewed push to add in solid characters, which has been a common complaint of especially some of the more recent Monsterverse efforts.
Where else have I seen Dan Stevens?
Dan Stevens in ‘Cuckoo’. Photo: Neon.
The British actor rose to fame on UK TV series ‘Downton Abbey,’ but since then has forged a healthy movie career for himself.
Coming up, he has horror movie ‘The Ritual,’ ‘Swiped,’ which tells the story of Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, and action horror thriller ‘Onslaught,’ re-uniting him with Wingard.
There will also be the small screen likes of ‘The Terror’ and Robert De Niro-starring limited series ‘Zero Day.’
What has happened with the Monsterverse so far?
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ coming soon to Apple TV+.
Already around for a decade, Legendary’s Monsterverse follows humanity’s battle to survive in a world facing a catastrophic new reality –– the monsters of our myths and legends are real.
It all kicked off with ‘Godzilla’ in 2014 and continued through 2017’s ‘Kong: Skull Island,’ 2019’s ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters,’ 2021’s ‘Godzilla Vs. Kong’ and last year’s record-breaking ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.’
The Monsterverse has grossed more than $2.5 billion at the global box office and has expanded onto smaller screens via ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ for Apple TV+, which has been renewed for a second season.
When will the new Monsterverse movie be on screens?
The movie is currently scheduled for release on March 26th, 2027. Plenty of time to get to the shelters for when the next round of creature madness stomps across cities.
It’s definitely not one for newcomers, stuffed full of continuing story threads, though it doesn’t exactly put storytelling depth ahead of big beasts destroying infrastructure as they do battle.
Here’s the big, main, glaring problem with ‘Godzilla x Kong’… It very much takes an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude. But a lot about ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ was broken, and this latest effort definitely doesn’t do anything to fix it.
So while there are certainly elements that work to some degree, the movie as a whole falls down whenever (most of) the humans are on screen. And unless you’re the world’s biggest fan of monsters hitting/blasting/whatever-ing each other, the feeling is very much one of numbing familiarity. While Wingard certainly knows his way around a witty, wrestling move-inspired set piece, even he can’t paper over the giant cracks appearing.
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’: Script and Direction
In truth, though, this really is one of those movies that leaves you wondering how it took so many experienced writers to come up with something so basic. There’s a new monster threat. Kong and Godzilla end up forming an unlikely alliance to deal with it. The humans either deliver exposition or quips (sometimes both). That’s it. There are times where the storytelling has all the complexity of a kid smashing their toys together.
Naturally, no one comes to these movies expecting Dostoevsky-level depth, but ‘The New Empire’ really doesn’t offer much in the way of anything beyond creature rumbles.
As mentioned, Wingard (and the effects team) conjure up some fun fights and brings plenty of knowing winks to monster mythology within them –– one of the big new threats, for example, is a classic kaiju, while our main duo is helped by a well-known creature (we’d joke about their name, but it’s too much of a spoilery giveaway).
Yet so much of the movie takes place within the Hollow Earth that it devolves into a mess of CGI that sometimes looks rubbery and fake (and far less effective than some atmospheric shots of Godzilla that could have been ripped straight from a classic Toho title.
Most people are coming to these movies for the bigger names, and we don’t mean any of the humans. In keeping with Wingard’s style, all the monsters have their own personalities (even if Godzilla is more animalistic than Kong’s recognizable emotions) and offer up perfectly serviceable actions. Highlights include the sight of the big lizard curled up to nap in Rome’s coliseum and Kong meeting a new mini version of himself).
Beyond the beasts, there are far slimmer pickings. Rebecca Hall has proved in the past she’s adept at bringing humanity to genre characters, but her Dr. Ilene Andrews serves either as an exposition delivery service (she might as well as be the narrator of the movie, stitching together plot threads and scenes because the title characters can’t) or the emotional heart of the movie alongside adopted daughter Jia (Kaylee Hottle).
Yet her connection with Jia is so cliched and basically emotional that it’s never satisfying. Of the other returning characters, Brian Tyree Henry’s Bernie Hayes is once more very standard comic relief, beneath his talents.
Possibly the best character in the new movie is Trapper, the wackily charming character brought to life by Dan Stevens, who completely understands the assignment and clearly looks to be having a blast working with his old friend Wingard (who directed him in the excellent ‘The Guest’ in 2014 –– which we’d heartily recommend watching instead of this film). In fact, he’s having more fun than most people in the audience are likely to.
Exhausting in its CG mishmash, the new monster movie seems unlikely to appeal to all but the monster committed fans of the title characters. It doesn’t re-invent the wheel and it still has no idea what to do with its characters besides have them explain what is going on or look scared.
“Big and dumb” isn’t always a criticism for a giant movie such as this, but in the case of ‘Godzilla x Kong’, it’s an apt description.
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ receives 5.5 out of 10 stars.
PX01ucUebc3N5sFufDFEA5
What’s the story of ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’?
The new installment in the Monsterverse puts the mighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal deadly threat hidden within our world that threatens the existence of their species and our very own, as well as diving deep into the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond.
Delving straight into the origins of Hollow Earth, this film will explore the ancient Titan battle that brought man and monster together forever.
Who else is in ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’?
Alongside the giant creature characters (who play themselves), the human cast for this one includes the returning likes of Rebecca Hall as Dr. Ilenes Andrews, Brian Tyree Henry as monarch conspiracy podcaster Bernie Hayes and Kaylee Hottle as Jia., who has a connection to Kong.
‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is in production right now and will be in theaters on March 15th next year. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.
Movies Similar to ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire:’
Godzilla and King Kong are cinematic characters that have thrilled audiences since they first appeared on the big screen back in 1956, and 1933, respectively.
Not to mention the excellent Apple TV+ series ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ which takes place within the MonsterVerse and premiered its first season last year.
In honor of ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’s theatrical release, Moviefone is counting down the 12 best Godzilla and King Kong movies of all time, including the latest!
French nuclear tests irradiate an iguana into a giant monster that viciously attacks freighter ships in the Pacific Ocean. A team of experts, including Niko Tatopoulos (Matthew Broderick), conclude that the oversized reptile is the culprit. Before long, the giant lizard is loose in Manhattan as the US military races to destroy the monster before it reproduces and it’s spawn takes over the world.
2019’s ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ Photo: Legendary Pictures.
Follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members 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.
Reporter Goro Maki (Akira Kubo) stumbles upon scientists conducting weather experiments on Sollgel Island in the South Seas. He discovers the island is inhabited by giant mantis and a woman named Saeko who’s been cast away since the death of her father. The pair soon find a helpless infant monster that Godzilla must adopt and learn to raise as one of his own.
Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a Navy bomb expert, has just reunited with his family in San Francisco when he is forced to go to Japan to help his estranged father, Joe (Bryan Cranston). Soon, both men are swept up in an escalating crisis when an ancient alpha predator arises from the sea to combat malevolent adversaries that threaten the survival of humanity. The creatures leave colossal destruction in their wake, as they make their way toward their final battleground: San Francisco.
2021’s ‘Godzilla vs. Kong.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
In a time when monsters walk the Earth, humanity’s fight for its future sets Godzilla and Kong on a collision course that will see the two most powerful forces of nature on the planet collide in a spectacular battle for the ages.
This latest entry in the Monsterverse franchise 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.
Naomi Watts in 2005’s ‘King Kong.’ Photo: Universal Pictures.
In 1933 New York, an overly ambitious movie producer (Jack Black) coerces his cast and hired ship crew to travel to mysterious Skull Island, where they encounter Kong, a giant ape who is immediately smitten with the leading lady (Naomi Watts).
1956’s ‘Godzilla, King of the Monsters!’ Photo: Toho Co., Ltd.
During an assignment, foreign correspondent Steve Martin (Raymond Burr) spends a layover in Tokyo and is caught amid the rampage of an unstoppable prehistoric monster the Japanese call ‘Godzilla’. The only hope for both Japan and the world lies on a secret weapon, which may prove more destructive than the monster itself.
Adventurous filmmaker, Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong), sets out to produce a motion picture unlike anything the world has seen before. Alongside his leading lady Ann Darrow (Fay Wray) and his first mate Jack Driscoll (Bruce Cabot), they arrive on an island and discover a legendary creature said to be neither beast nor man. Denham captures the monster to displayed on Broadway as Kong, the eighth wonder of the world.
And while those were produced as a collaboration between Warner Bros. and Legendary, the latter has now partnered with Apple’s streaming service to deliver more stories set in the same universe (albeit without most of the characters).
You might wonder how a TV series can pull off the sort of giant (pun intended) action as the movies, and while the show naturally has to be on a smaller scale, it still has the hefty budget of Apple to create some effective scenes of giant beasts.
What works about ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’?
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ coming soon to Apple TV+.
With much more connective tissue to the cinematic “Monsterverse” than you might expect (it kicks off, for example, with a cameo from ‘Kong: Skull Island’s Bill Randa, played by the movie’s John Goodman), ‘Monarch’ treads a careful path between trying to replicate what worked in the movies –– because let’s be honest, they have been very changeable in quality –– and forging its own identity.
Focusing on a handful of characters whose lives have all been impacted by the Titans in different ways was a smart move, because it allows for a lot of drama between some compelling human beings trying to figure out a way forward. One storyline follows Anna Sawai’s Cate Randa, who discovers that her recently-deceased father had a whole other life and family in Tokyo, including half-brother Kentaro (Ren Watabe). That sets them on a collision course with Monarch in the modern day (or at least 2015).
The real highlight, however (as you might be able to guess) is the canny casting of Kurt and Wyatt Russell playing different ages of the same character, in this case Lee Shaw. We first meet the man back in the 1950s, where he’s involved in the effective birth of Monarch as an organization alongside a younger Randa (here played by Anders Holm) who is working with (and eventually married to) fellow scientist Keiko (Mari Yamamoto).
(L to R) Wyatt Russell, Mari Yamamoto and Anders Holm in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ premiering November 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
The two actors do a fantastic job of making you believe this is the same man (not too tough given the familiar resemblance), sharing tics and actions and giving Shaw some real depth.
Kurt Russell brings a convincing world-weariness and spark to the role of the older version, who is essentially imprisoned in a retirement home run by Monarch. It’s not long before he’s out and helping the likes of Cate on their investigation, though.
And when called upon to deliver on the monster spectacle, the show doesn’t hold back, flashing back to the Godzilla clash in San Francisco in ‘Godzilla’ and further back to humanity’s first encounter with the giant reptile.
But it’s not just the OG Titan who has their moment here; ‘Monarch’ is loaded down with plenty of different, new creatures, including one in the snowy wastes of the Arctic.
Related Article: Director and Producer Matt Shakman Talks ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’: Script and Direction
The ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ production team. Photo: Apple TV+.
Created by TV veteran Chris Black (‘Severance’, ‘Mad Men’) and comic book writer Matt Fraction (Marvel comics’ ‘Hawkeye’), ‘Monarch’ has both highs and lows when it comes to its creation.
Some sequences, such as an impressive moment where Shaw, Randa and Keiko investigate a disused nuclear facility swarming with creatures, or Cate’s experiences in the subway monster incursion shelter in Tokyo.
There’s a real feeling of comprehensive world building here, expanding on what has been created for the movies in interesting fashion.
Not every character works as well as Shaw or the others –– filling out the supporting cast are a mixture of tropey types, some of whom do receive a little more exploration and the main story of Cate and Kentaro sometimes trips over the line into melodrama early on. And there are times (albeit few of them) when the effects or production design ambition outstrips the show’s capabilities.
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’: Final Thoughts
Kurt Russell in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ premiering November 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
There was a big risk involved in trying to extend the “MonsterVerse” on TV screens, but with Apple’s considerable budgetary backing and some great casting choices, ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ works more than it doesn’t.
Though the selling point might be the combined power of the Russell father and son and some of the monster moments, ‘Monarch’ also does the work to fill in the gaps between, meaning that it’s worth watching even when a giant creature isn’t on screen or we’re not watching a Russell do their thing.
And the mystery element (fueled by what we already know from the movies) also works, even if the odd clue here and there feels like ideas that have been brought to screens before.
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.
Anna Sawai in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ premiering November 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
What’s the story of ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’?
Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ tracks two siblings following in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch.
Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (played by Kurt Russell and son Wyatt Russell across two different time periods), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows.
The dramatic saga — spanning three generations — reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with executive producer and director Matt Shakman about his work on ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ diving into Monarch’s backstory, connecting it to the movies, balancing different timelines, casting Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell as the same character, and show’s new creatures.
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ director and executive producer Matt Shakman. Photo: Apple TV+.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Shakman, VFX Supervisor Sean Konrad, and actors Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Ren Watabe, Kiersey Clemons, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about having the opportunity to dive into the backstory of Monarch and, with this series, connect it to the MonsterVerse movies?
Matt Shakman: What I love so much about what Chris Black and Matt Fraction, who created the show, have done here is they’ve created this beautiful human-centric way into the MonsterVerse. I think if you’re a fan of the MonsterVerse movies and of Godzilla, there is so much here that you will love. It’s full of Easter eggs, and it’s a puzzle that works within existing mythology. But if you are not familiar with that mythology, there’s a way in as well through the eyes of these wonderful characters who also don’t know anything about this MonsterVerse and are learning as they go. So, it’s an emotional story that works within a complicated couple of timelines. I think what is most impressive is that it’s a multi-generational family drama, that it also is combined with epic storytelling and colossal action.
(L to R) Anders Holm and Mari Yamamoto in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ premiering November 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
MF: As you mentioned, the show does unfold in two separate timelines. Can you talk about the challenges of navigating those different storylines across different timelines?
MS: It’s very clever what Matt and Chris created because we have a trio in the past and a trio in the present, and there are direct connections that we learn about as the series goes on, how they’re related. Their stories get more and more intertwined as the show goes on. There are thematic resonances, too, that are happening. They’ve created a story that truly is about legacy. It’s in the title of the show, and it makes a whole lot of sense. It’s about, obviously, this organization Monarch, but it’s about the Randa family in the present day. It’s Cate (Anna Sawai) and Kentaro (Ren Watabe) who learn about each other, realize they have a sibling they did not know about, and that there’s a lot they did not know about their father. Then, we’re learning about their grandparents in a way who are the founders of Monarch, and about Hiroshi’s parents. So, there’s a whole lot of stories about trauma, discovery, love and loss that trickles down from the 1950s all the way to 2014 and 2015.
Kurt Russell in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ premiering November 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
MF: Whose brilliant idea was it to cast both Wyatt Russell and Kurt Russell as Lee Shaw, and what was it like for you working with both actors?
MS: That was an idea that just presented itself by fate, I think, really. It was incredible to work with them. They’re both brilliant actors. I’m a huge fan of Kurt Russell going way back, just like I am of Godzilla, and I’m a huge fan of Wyatt’s, too. It was amazing to be able to work with them to create one character. I think they had been offered father/son things before, understandably, because they bear such a striking resemblance to each other, but then nothing had clicked, or they hadn’t found the right project, but they really wanted to work together. Then here we go. We have this idea that they could play the same character. What’s fun about it is they’re very different actors. They’re different in their vibes. They’re different in the way they approach things. I think they really loved the idea of, “Oh, well, I’ll take a little bit from Wyatt, and I’ll take a little bit from Kurt, and we’ll put it together, and we’ll create our own version of a character that we might not otherwise have created in that way.” It became a family project.
Wyatt Russell in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ premiering November 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
MF: Finally, can you tease fans about the new creatures they will see in this series and how you wanted those monsters to look?
MS: We have obviously legendary characters that you see, like Godzilla from the Toho films and from the legendary MonsterVerse. We’ve got characters from there. But we did get to invent a whole bunch of new characters, and that is just super exciting for a MonsterVerse fan to be able to add things. What’s great about the monsters we were creating is we wanted them to fit into their environment, whether it was on the ice in a world of snow or whether it was part of Skull Island. When we were creating the opening for John Goodman, we had all sorts of different ideas about how that would’ve worked and what creatures would be involved. But when I found this location in Hawaii that was this volcanic rock jetty that went out into the water, it felt exactly like Skull Island. I was like, “Oh, we’ve got to shoot here.” I went climbing down to the end of it, and suddenly, all these crabs that I didn’t see that were camouflaged against the rock ran away. I thought, “Oh, my gosh. Well, that’s what we must do. We have to do a camouflaged crab monster that fits this environment.” So, the environment inspired us. Then we looked at all sorts of different crabs and other creatures we could smoosh together, and then that just made it big and threw it at one of these characters that we love. That’s the joy of it.
Mantleclaw in ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ premiering November 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
What is the plot of ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’?
Following the epic battle between Godzilla and the MUTOs that leveled San Francisco and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, two siblings (Anna Sawai and Ren Watabe), following in their father’s footsteps, uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues introduce them to the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (Wyatt Russell and Kurt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows. The dramatic saga, spanning three generations, reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.
Who is in the cast of ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’?
