While the MonsterVerse has so far consisted of Godzilla, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and Kong: Skull Island, Legendary wasted no time in having those Titans square off on screen.
That battle played out in last year's Godzilla vs. Kong, a movie that was a box office hit - in the midst of the pandemic with a dual HBO Max release, anyway - and well-received by Kaiju fans (not so much by critics, unfortunately). There's understandably a lot of excitement for the upcoming sequel, though it has become clear that those hoping for a rematch could be disappointed.
Toho is believed to be focusing its efforts on making a new Godzilla movie, potentially meaning the end is nigh for that Titan in this world. Rumour has it the follow-up could be Son of Kong, though with director using Adam Wingard using "Origins" as the movie's codename, there's been a lot of speculation online about when and where this story takes place.
Well, a press release shared by the Australian Government (via SFFGazette.com) may give us a better idea of what to expect.
"The highly anticipated Godzilla vs. Kong sequel is the latest international blockbuster to be drawn to film in Australia, with the production set to receive $16 million in funding under the Australian Government’s highly successful $540 million Location Incentive," it reads. "The fifth film [in] the MonsterVerse franchise will see Kong defend the Earth from the unusual and dangerous creatures that threaten his new home."
So, as expected, it sounds like the plan is for Kong - and/or his son - to protect Hollow Earth, an intriguing premise and one that may shift the focus away from monsters rampaging through cities. Chances are Godzilla won't appear, but that doesn't necessarily mean we won't see other familiar beasts throughout the course of this adventure. There's always a chance we get a cameo, though.
The untitled Godzilla vs. Kong sequel is currently set to arrive in theaters on March 15, 2024.