The Godzilla vs. Kong trailer has set the MonsterVerse fandom alight with anticipation for the titans’ impending duel, and it also dropped some clues at the plots and threats lying in the franchise’s future. 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 is the fourth entry in the MonsterVerse, and there are currently no announced plans for more films to follow.
The recent Godzilla vs. Kong trailer set up the showdown between Godzilla and Kong, showing Godzilla on a global rampage at odds with the previous peaceful relationship with humanity. Some human, 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. 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.
What’s unclear from the trailer is why Monarch captures Kong in the first place. 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 exact timeline isn’t clear from the footage that’s been revealed so far, but it seems like a safe bet that Godzilla’s villainous turn isn’t the initial threat that prompts Kong’s enlistment.
Why Monarch Captures Kong In GvK
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?
The line about needing Kong for what’s to come suggests that a greater threat has been made known to Monarch, and that Kong is abducted from his home to be used as a weapon against that threat. 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.
It’s also possible though that something else is going on. “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.
Theory: A Bigger Threat Faces Earth
As of now, no plans have been announced for more MonsterVerse films after Godzilla vs. Kong. 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. With the new trailer’s promise that “One Will Fall” in the battle between Godzilla and Kong, the studio will need to introduce new threats to keep the story going into the future.
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.
Another possibility is that the MonsterVerse could start introducing more extraterrestrial threats. 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 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.
MonsterVerse's Future After Godzilla vs Kong
With what’s been set up so far, there are a few paths the MonsterVerse could follow after Godzilla vs. Kong. One possibility is that Godzilla wins his battle with the great ape and remains a villainous presence for the foreseeable future. He’s been a hero in 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.
The more likely option is that Legendary will just bring in more monsters, either from preexisting properties or via brand new creatures. The problem is that after Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, Ghidorah and Kong, any other monster will feel lackluster by comparison. Bringing in Gamera would be a fun move that some kaiju fans have called for, but even he doesn’t hold the cultural weight that the MonsterVerse’s current creatures do. And while there are still plenty of classic Godzilla monsters who could be brought in, the most famous ones have already shown up.
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.
