Kong: Skull Island director Jordan Vogt-Roberts is confident that his version of the 100-foot gorilla will be properly handled in Godzilla vs. Kong, directed by Adam Wingard (You're Next, Death Note).
Kong: Skull Island was the second installment in Legendary's MonsterVerse, a shared universe of giant monster movies that began in the 2014 film Godzilla, the latest American adaption of the Japanese monster classic. The success of the film, directed by Gareth Edwards, led to the announcement that the distributions rights for Legendary's Kong: Skull Island would change from Universal Studios to Warner Bros. to allow room for a crossover. In October 2015, Godzilla vs. Kong was officially announced with a release date of 2020. In May 2017, Adam Wingard sighed on to direct the crossover tentpole.
Related: Godzilla vs. Kong Director Promises A Dark Movie
In an interview with Collider, Jordan Vogt-Roberts talked about making Kong: Skull Island and his thoughts on how King Kong will be portrayed in Godzilla vs. Kong. Though Vogt-Roberts says he has too much on his plate to direct another monster movie, he has had conversations with Adam Wingard concerning the Kong character in the MonsterVerse:
Talking to Adam made me so happy because he, in particular, really understands the kind of anime, manga, mech sensibility that I was trying to bring to Kong. He gets that and that was something that I fought so hard for and was so difficult to sort of realize to life through concept to execution with ILM [Industrial Light and Magic.] That’s one of the things I’m most proud of with him. I think he truly gets that and he truly wants to lean into this version of Kong that kind of was borne from my crazy and stupid video game brain.
Vogt-Roberts also said that Kong is a "battered and scarred" character with a "reluctant protagonist vibe." In multiple interviews, Vogt-Roberts has discussed how anime influenced Kong: Skull Island, particularly the monsters. Many of the animals encountered on the island had a majestic, legendary quality that were inspired by anime which made them like "gods of their own domain." As for Kong, the character's movements and fighting style were based on the mechs in the science fiction anime series, Evangelion.
Vogt-Roberts says that he believes Wingard will use this portrayal of Kong as the character faces off with the King of the Monsters. When asked if the character would return in a solo movie following his appearance in Godzilla vs. Kong, Vogt-Roberts claimed that he is not aware of any official plans to make a proper sequel to Kong: Skull Island.
Next: Godzilla vs. Kong Set in Modern Day
Source: Collider
