The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Warner Bros. has finally struck a deal with Legendary Entertainment to keep Godzilla vs. Kong as a day-and-date theatrical and HBO Max release. It'll keep its current release date on May 21.
The new deal helps both studios avoid a potential major lawsuit over WarnerMedia's bombshell decision last month to put its entire 2021 slate, including Godzilla vs. Kong and Dune - both of which were primarily financed by Legendary - on HBO Max. Compensation numbers weren't made available, but it's believed their deal for GvK was in the $225 million-plus range, which is what Netflix offered for the movie before WarnerMedia blocked the deal last year.
As for Denis Villeneuve's Dune, talks are still ongoing, but it seems as though both sides are nearing an agreement on that one as well. However, with Legendary strongly backing Villeneuve's desire to secure an exclusive theatrical release window in October, WarnerMedia's day-and-date plan may have to be amended at some point. Their decision here will also likely set a precedent for what happens with The Matrix 4 in December, as director Lana Wachowski is also pushing for an exclusive theatrical release.
Godzilla vs. Kong will be the fourth installment in the MonsterVerse, following Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Adam Wingard (Death Note) is directing with a screenplay from Terry Rossio (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl). The ensemble cast features Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Jessica Henwick, Julian Dennison, Kyle Chandler, Demián Bichir, Zhang Ziyi, Van Marten and Lance Reddick.
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. As Monarch embarks on a perilous mission into uncharted terrain and unearths clues to the Titans’ origins, a human conspiracy threatens to wipe the creatures, both good and bad, from the face of the earth forever.
Godzilla vs. Kong features:
Director: Adam Wingard
Alexander Skarsgård in an undisclosed role
Millie Bobby Brown as Madison Russell
Rebecca Hall in an undisclosed role
Brian Tyree Henry in an undisclosed role
Shun Oguri in an undisclosed role
Eiza González in an undisclosed role
Jessica Henwick in an undisclosed role
Julian Dennison in an undisclosed role
Kyle Chandler as Dr. Mark Russell
Demián Bichir in an undisclosed role
Zhang Ziyi as Dr. Chen
Van Marten in an undisclosed role
Lance Reddick in an undisclosed role
Godzilla vs. Kong roars into theaters and on HBO Max on May 21