In the trailer for Godzilla vs. Kong, Nathan Lind (Alexander Skarsgård) insisted that the world of the MonsterVerse "needs Kong", but not Godzilla. The two Titans will clash in the upcoming film, which will be released in theaters and HBO Max on March 26, 2021. Godzilla vs. Kong is the fourth entry into Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse, which began with 2014's Godzilla reboot. The titular battle was first teased in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, where the credits sequence showed the migration of Titans to Skull Island, Kong's home. Depictions of Godzilla and Kong fighting were found on cave walls, showing that their violent encounters have not been random, but have instead been part of an ancient war.
The Titans' struggle against one another had gone on for centuries, leaving humans caught in the middle without any defenses. In retaliation, the scientific group Monarch was created; they were tasked with eliminating monster threats while keeping them a secret. However, the scale of the monsters' attacks grew to the point where their existence could no longer be covered up. Monarch was forced to employ different strategies to avoid the end of humanity itself. In Godzilla vs. Kong, it appears that their latest plan is to pick a side in the Titans' war.
Monarch chose to align themselves with King Kong. Despite seeing Godzilla's sheer power and command over other monsters, he is a radioactive, unpredictable force of nature who has spiralled out of their control. However, Monarch knows that Kong can connect with humans, making him a more reliable prospective ally.
The Godzilla vs Kong trailer showed that Kong has a unique bond with a young girl. The two have their own way of communicating with each other, something no other human has with Kong. Her adoptive guardian, Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall), believes that Kong acts as her defender. The girl gives Monarch a direct liaison with Kong that they do not have with Godzilla. Godzilla: King of the Monsters saw scientists attempting to use frequencies to control the Titans, but this often backfired. Kong's drive to protect the girl comes from his own personal vow, not human manipulation, leaving less potential for disaster. Like humans, Kong can recognize family and feel grief, as seen from the mournful moment in the trailer where he places his giant hand over a similarly-sized painted handprint. His capacity to connect with people could grow as he comes to see these shared traits.
By contrast, his opponent is quite literally a cold-blooded reptile. Godzilla has heroically protected humanity in the past, but attacks cities in the new film, much to Monarch's bewilderment. The King of the Monsters may be susceptible to influences that Kong cannot feel, which is perhaps a result of his use of nuclear energy. His sudden path of destruction is mysterious, and its cause will certainly be explored in the new movie. In the meantime, humanity needs an equally powerful force to fend Godzilla off, which is where Kong comes in.
Although the girl's relationship with King Kong is essential for humanity's survival, there are also risks to exploiting it. If the child ends up in harm's way as part of Monarch's strategy, her protector is sure to retaliate against them. As stated in the Godzilla vs Kong teaser, "Kong bows to no one," and Monarch's attempts to manipulate Kong could easily go awry. The humans of the MonsterVerse will have to recognize that they can never truly have control over the Titans to ensure their survival.
