July 28, 2009 | by Rob Frappier 

‘King Kong’ Prequel Takes Us Back to Skull Island

Kong: King of Skull Island

You know what I like in a movie? Giant apes fighting giant dinosaurs. Which is why I was excited to hear the 2004 novel Kong: King of Skull Island has been optioned for production by Spirit Pictures. The film will be produced using CGI and motion capture technology similar to the kind used in Robert Zemeckis’ upcoming version of A Christmas Carol.

A sort of prequel/sequel to the King Kong story we all know and love, King of Skull Island flips back and forth between the primordial history of Skull Island and a modern story involving Jack Driscoll (played by Adrian Brody in Peter Jackson’s King Kong) and Vincent Denham, the son of Carl Denham (played by Jack Black). The pair return to Skull Island 25 years after the death of King Kong to investigate Carl’s disappearance and, according to the book’s website, discover “the story behind King Kong and clues to the origins of Skull Island itself.”

In my opinion, when you’re dealing with a sequel to a classic monster movie, you absolutely must show respect to the original. Which is why I was happy to see Steve Iles of Spirit Pictures acknowledging the 1933 King Kong’s original director, Merian C. Cooper.

“We’re very concerned with honoring Merian C. Cooper’s legacy in Hollywood. We want to make sure that whatever we deliver will honor his memory.”

It should be interesting to see how this movie comes together. I’m particularly curious as to how effective Spirit’s use of motion capture technology will be in bringing the legendary ape to life. I was floored by the special effects in Peter Jackson’s King Kong, but I doubt Spirit will be able to throw a $200 million budget behind their production. What do you think? Would you watch Kong: King of Skull Island? If anyone has read the book, I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments.

There is no writer or director attached to Kong: King of Skull Island at this point.

Source: Variety via Bloody Disgusting

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  • kale
    I think its a kool idea, but then again, i loved peter jackson's King Kong and alot of people frowned on that
  • Doug Berry
    I'd watch it as long as they don't go running through a bunch of dinosaur feet like the last one, that scene was a bid ridiculous for me.
  • tasouli
    Are you kidding me...leave a great movie alone
    Whats next Titanic 2 : the untold story of Jack
  • ComicFanatic
    I like peter jackson verison but they could have cut out an hour of that. I'm pretty sure more people would have liked it.
  • Steve Brown
    The original 1933 King Kong is my favourite movie of all time. I even like the sequel, Son of Kong, made the same year by Merian C. Cooper with some of the same actors (Carl Denham's character at least). I even have both remakes (1976, 2005) and the sequel to the '76 version, King Kong Lives, starring Linda Hamilton (where Kong receives a pacemaker after his fatal fall!, hilariously bad)
    Jackson's film, while brilliant, was too long. Everyone knows the story of Kong so why he made us wait over an hour to see him was a bit silly. Incidentally if you can get to see this in HD/Blu Ray I recommemend you do. Kong looks unreal with every single hair on his body superbly detailed.
    This new sequel/prequel could go either way but I'm still gladdened by the news. If they're really gonna honour Cooper's legacy then go for it.
    I just can't get enough Kong.
  • Matt Keith
    This idea sounds just retarded.
  • chrisj
    Peter Jackson's King Kong film was great. why not have a prequel/sequel to it? They already remade King Kong more than once before Jackson made his. Why not do somthing different. LOL or they could a remake King Kong VS. Godzilla using the Godzilla that was in matthew Brodwick film.
  • Matt Keith
    "LOL or they could a remake King Kong VS. Godzilla using the Godzilla that was in matthew Brodwick film."

    Except that wasn't Godzilla in that film.
  • chrisj
    Im not much of a Godzilla fan so i could careless. Whatever you wanna call it, looked like a better Godzilla than Japan's version that looked too fake to me.
  • @cj

    You're flagged for auto-moderation, bud. One sentence comments with a link longer than what you have to add on every single post = spammer as far as I'm concerned.

    Stop putting your link on every single comment and actually add to the conversation in a meaningful way and I'll remove you from the list.

    Vic
  • SIN187UM
    I think this film could work. peter jackson's king kong, especially the deluxe editon was great. yeh the romance was drawn out too much, but it was still worthy. I wwonder if Jack Black will come back as Denham.
  • Tim "Cloverfield"
    I would love to see this....if they could incorporate the book with alot of what Mr. Jackson created. Alot of questions to be answered. How did Kong break his jaw? How did he get the scars on his right side? What other Kong like species were buried in the grave yard we saw? Kong's siblings? I agree with Steve on this. ( Hell Steve, I even have a bad copy of King Kong Escapes!) Bring it! One of the greatest Cinema Monsters of all time! Mr. Cooper would be proud.
  • The Pitt Man
    There is only a need for a prequel or sequel if there are aspects of the story left untold, and that's only IF they are NOT meant to be left untold. Many have said that Rob Zombie's Remake of Halloween humanized Michael Myers and ergo, removed his mystery and terror by revealing a previously unknown past. This tactic has also made Wolverine a boring character, as I've said before - Wolvy should be left in the dark, the way he likes it! KING KONG? I admit there are questions. How does an ape get that big? Is he a leftover from prehistoric times? or a titan-type god? What happened to the rest of his kind? HERE'S A SUGGESTION!!! No americans!!! Let's have the natives as the only humans, a'la Apocalypto or Rapa Nui, bring on the subtitles!
  • chrisj
    @ Vic
    I was only voicing my opinion about a prequel/sequel to the next purpose King Kong film. And i was being sarcastic about the statement i made about King Kong vs Godzilla while commenting on how felt about the Godzilla franchise. what list are you talkin about? whatever the case maybe, im just using free speech.
  • @ chrisj
    Don't worry about it man. Vic wasn't talking to you. He was talking to a different commenter - "cj" - who was only leaving one line comments plus links to his website.
  • chrisj
    @ Rob Frappier
    I see. Thanks for the heads up bud.
  • chrisj
    @vic
    I apoligize. Didnt realize you were talkin to another CJ. Sorry.
  • LikeItMuch?
    King Kong owns! :D I love that giant ape :D
  • @cHRISj

    No worries.

    Vic
  • Demo
    i hated the king gong it was the worse 3 hours of my life. lol
  • Andy S
    I would TOTALLY be on board for this film. The way I see it, the more Kong (and more Godzilla), the better. I also thought Jackson's version was a bit long, and that Jack Black ruined alot of the movie (boy I wish he got stomped by a dino or Kong), but Kong himself was awesome.
  • Ben R
    Although I do also admit that it was a bit too long, I thought Jackson's King Kong was a great movie. I would love to see a prequel made in the same manner preferably with Jackson on board to direct again . . . that being said, not too sure how I feel about a CGI version of Kong to go along with it. I mean why waste a good thing?
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