The role of director Adam Wingard will return to the MonsterVerse with the upcoming film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, set to be released in March. The storyline continues the events of Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), following Kong as he searches for the hollow Earth, the birthplace of the titans. While the project promises to expand the MonsterVerse significantly, it also introduces many new monsters to this cinematic universe. As the release date approaches, director Adam Wingard has shared insights about Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and the MonsterVerse.
Director Adam Wingard.
With you, what is the advancement of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire compared to the previous film?
There are many points of change. In the previous film, I tried not to alter much about the appearances of the two monsters to avoid making them feel like new characters. Kong’s design is slightly older to fit the timeline. Godzilla remains largely unchanged compared to previous films.
However, in this part, I know for sure that I need to innovate Godzilla. But I don’t want the changes to appear random; they must be rooted in the storyline of the script. I believe Godzilla fans are very eager about this. The story in this film represents an evolution. To develop, it will introduce elements that the audience has never seen before.
In the initial battles, I and the crew thought about giving Kong a new weapon. However, I feel those ideas went too far. I also didn’t think of myself as the right person to bring a version of Kong wielding a weapon to the screen. In this part, we also wanted to introduce a new creature to make it feel more fresh.
Can you tell us more about Skar King – the new character in this installment?
The quality of a film heavily depends on the characters it presents. Unlike other super-powered characters that act according to their nature, like Ghidorah, Skar King will possess traits similar to a human. It resembles a dark version of Kong, lacking emotional depth, and is more animalistic. This character embodies a unique form of power, seeking dominance and control.
What about the absence of main characters from previous films, like Millie Bobby Brown or Alexander Skarsgård? Will they potentially return in future installments?
I think there is a chance they could return in future installments. The direction of this film focuses more on the monsters themselves. You may not see many human characters in the first five minutes; we will mainly rely on visuals to convey the story.
The reduction of human characters is a primary reason we had to consider carefully regarding casting. This film will focus significantly on the young character Jia (Kaylee Hottle), who was introduced in the previous installment. She is the only character in the MonsterVerse able to communicate with Kong. Therefore, the idea of Jia appearing and being central to the human character in this film is quite natural.
Millie Bobby Brown’s character will be absent in this sequel.
In the trailer, viewers may notice a comedic scene where Kong and Godzilla run together amidst danger. From that, what ideas do you have for establishing a unique and humorous relationship between these two giants?
Right from the beginning of this project, I wanted to introduce an element that was both humorous and relatable, even to the point of being absurd. In meetings with production teams, the initial ideas I presented were more straightforward compared to the previous versions. I think the focus on lighter elements won’t diminish the intensity of the film. However, they will appear in comic versions and graphic novels released close to the film’s premiere. You will find many interesting elements within that context.
This movie is heavily influenced by monster films from the 1970s. I really enjoy those classic Godzilla movies. I want to bring that emotional depth into the MonsterVerse. This cinematic environment has transitioned from serious scripts to less serious ones.
As a filmmaker, I often ask myself which style is suitable for the MonsterVerse. Instead, I often think of the Fast & Furious franchise, a series that found its unique style after the fifth installment. The initial installment was quite traditional, resembling a version of Point Break but focused on street racing. After that, the ideas started to evolve. I want the MonsterVerse to become increasingly distinctive.
In meetings with production teams, I mentioned that Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire would be the Fast & Furious 5 of the MonsterVerse, where the series begins to adopt a clearer style. There will be fans who want serious films. Some things will be understood as natural when they are not overly important.
This film currently maintains a balance. While there are humorous and light elements, we still emphasize and focus on character development seriously. Even though Kong and Godzilla are running together, I have received feedback that the team has made significant mistakes regarding the character dynamics in the scenes. However, this film is going to utilize the perspectives of the monsters, not the humans, as in previous installments. Therefore, viewers will feel they are being treated equally to these giants.
