Godzilla vs. Kong is the fourth entry in the MonsterVerse, and there are currently no announced plans for more films to follow. The film is currently slated for release in theaters and on HBO Max on March 31, but that date may change as it already has multiple times in the past few weeks. Godzilla vs. Kong trailer has set the MonsterVerse on a particular pedestal that hasn’t been touched before, and the expectations are only soaring higher. The trailer has set up the epic showdown between Godzilla and Kong, showing Godzilla on a global rampage at odds with the previous peaceful relationship with humanity.
The titan-studying, earth-defending organization Monarch seems to remove Kong from his home on Skull Island, reviving an ancient feud between the two monsters and kicking off what’s sure to be a battle of epic proportions. Some humans, like Millie Bobby Brown’s Madison Russell, believe there is an unseen force manipulating Godzilla into violent behavior, while others are ready to stop him at any cost. A line at the beginning says that humanity needs Kong “to stop what’s coming,” suggesting that the ape’s initial removal has nothing to do with Godzilla.
The new Godzilla vs. Kong trailer begins with the great ape chained on the deck of a ship, seemingly being transported from Skull Island to an undisclosed location. Before he arrives at his destination, however, the boat is attacked by Godzilla, and the clash of the titans commences. But how did Kong get there in the first place, and where is Monarch taking him? There’s certainly a possibility that threat is Godzilla and nothing more, provided that Kong’s departure from Skull Island takes place after the lizard’s attack begins. Godzilla is seen blowing aircraft out of the sky during that same attack, so it’s certainly plausible that he’s the one endangering humanity from the start and Monarch captures Kong to defend the Earth from Godzilla because of their ancient titan war.
“What’s coming” implies a threat yet to manifest. If Godzilla has already begun his rampage, that doesn’t seem to qualify as a “coming” danger. Going off that theory, there could be a greater threat looming in the MonsterVerse for the stories after the upcoming film, either from new titans, human foes, or even possibly something extraterrestrial. The franchise has been very successful at the box office, however, and it’s unlikely that Warner Bros. would cancel one of its biggest franchises – a promised expanded cinematic universe – after just four films. What could that threat be? There are a few likely options. The eco-terrorist group from Godzilla: King of the Monsters is still active, and the post-credits scene for that film confirmed that the group had managed to acquire one of King Ghidorah’s heads.
Ghidorah has appeared in a mechanized cyborg state in the Toho films, and it’s possible that Mecha-Ghidorah could make a return in the MonsterVerse as a weapon of Alan Jonah. That theory gains even more traction with the appearance of Godzilla vs. Kong’s mysterious new APEX group, a cybernetics organization that some believe are working on Mechagodzilla. The Toho Godzilla films have frequently employed aliens as primary villains, Legendary could incorporate a similar storyline after Godzilla vs. Kong. The concept has already been alluded to by Ghidorah’s confirmation as an alien creature.
Mike Dougherty, director of King of the Monsters, has also mentioned Gigan as one of his favorite kaiju – a creature who has historically been a weapon of alien invaders. Or of course, the new threat could just be the discovery of new, stronger titans. With what’s been set up so far, there are a few paths the MonsterVerse could follow after Godzilla vs. Kong. He’s been a hero for Legendary’s franchise so far, but there’s a long and proud tradition of Godzilla being the bad guy in his movies. If Mechagodzilla is invoked in the upcoming film, Godzilla remaining the villain could set up a classic Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla fight as the next big film in the series.\
A less likely but incredibly exciting possibility is that the MonsterVerse could finally cross over with Pacific Rim, bringing some version of the Godzilla/Gypsy Danger battle many fans have wanted for years. That would necessitate some multiverse business or trans-dimensional travel, making it highly unlikely, but it would certainly be a crowd-pleaser.
Whatever the future of the MonsterVerse holds in store, fans can look forward to a titanic showdown in Godzilla vs. Kong.
