It was recently announced that Warner Bros./Legendary are officially moving forward with a follow-up to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, with writer Dave Callaham enlisted to pen the script for the untitled movie.
There was no mention of a potential director at the time, but it seems Adam Wingard, who helmed The New Empire and its predecessor Godzilla vs. Kong, was set to return.
Was being the operative word.
According to THR, Wingard is no longer in line to direct the project. Though the report stresses that he didn't have a deal in place, anyway, it sounds like he was tentatively attached prior to a parting of ways, which is described as "amicable and stemming from timing issues," with the door remaining "open for a future return."
Wingard is now expected to turn his attention to his next project, a new original feature that he wanted to tackle before another MonsterVerse instalment: An action thriller titled Onslaught, which was picked up in a competitive sale by A24 and is prepping for a fall shoot.
Callaham has previously worked on several major studio projects, including the 2021 Mortal Kombat reboot, Wonder Woman 1984, Marvel Studios' Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Sony Pictures' Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. He also has some prior experience with Big G, having written the early drafts and received story by credit on 2014’s Godzilla.
Godzilla x Kong wasn't a big hit with critics (54% on Rotten Tomatoes), but it did pretty well at the box office, taking in close to $555 million worldwide.
Rebecca Hall (Dr. Ilene Andrews), Brian Tyree Henry (Bernie Hayes) and Kaylee Hottle (Jia) reprise their roles from the previous movie, but Millie Bobby Brown and Alexander Skarsgård did not return. Legion alum Dan Stevens took over as the male lead. Fala Chen, Alex Ferns and Rachel House also feature in supporting roles.
Wingard collaborated once more with production designer Tom Hammock, editor Josh Schaeffer, and composer Tom Holkenborg. Terry Rossio was back on script duties, along with Jeremy Slater and Wingard's frequent collaborator Simon Barrett.
"This latest entry 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.
The story sees the legendary Titans Godzilla and Kong team up to face a world-ending threat so terrifying that neither could survive alone."
Did you enjoy Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire? What would you like to see from a sequel? Drop us a comment down below.