Godzilla rarely gets the recognition he deserves, both as a hero and as one of fiction's most adaptable characters. But with the recent string of awesome, or at least fantastic-looking, Godzilla projects, it's finally time for the giant atomic lizard to shine.
We all know that Godzilla can play the reluctant hero, and it's the role he's played for years in Legendary's American films. But the new trailer for the next entry in the MonsterVerse, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, seems to place the King of the Monsters in a new role as the weary mentor. This movie seems to be mostly about Kong and his quest for the survival of his species. But when a new threat arises that Kong can't stop alone, the trailer's human narrators know that Godzilla is coming to save the day, complete with a shiny new pink spine.
It's an incredibly silly but equally exciting place to see Godzilla perform, and one that seems to fit the tone of the film perfectly. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire looks like a fantastic, futuristic monster romp full of beautiful colors, gigantic monsters and cities waiting to be destroyed. And who knows more about that than Godzilla?
But what's extra exciting about the film is that it will be released just a few months after we've seen Godzilla do so many other things. In Monarch: Legacy of Monstersthe excellent Apple TV series that serves as a follow-up to 2014's Godzilla and takes place in the MonsterVerse, Godzilla is a long-dormant protector of Earth. He is a vast, majestic, divine wonder from a time long before man.
Meanwhile, on the big screen, a very different Godzilla is taking over the box office Godzilla: Minus one. Japan's Godzilla movie feels like a throwback to the creature's first on-screen appearances. He's gigantic, terrifying, unknowable, and for some reason seems determined to destroy Tokyo. In other words, it's Godzilla returning to claim his throne as one of the coolest and scariest movie monsters.
Pop culture is filled with heroes these days, but none have the reach that Godzilla has. What other character could manage to lead a buddy film team, be a terrifying horror villain, and play a supporting role for Kurt Russell in just a few short months? If there is any justice in the world, this impressive run will only be the beginning of a new golden age for Godzilla.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is scheduled for release on April 12, 2024.