Monsterverse
MonsterVerse | |
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File:Monsterverse logo.jpg | |
Directed by |
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Produced by |
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Production companies | |
Distributed by |
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Release date | 2014–present |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | Total (2 films): $350 million |
Box office | Total (1 film): $529,076,069 |
The MonsterVerse[1] is an American media franchise and shared fictional cinematic universe that is centered on a series of monster films featuring Godzilla and King Kong, distributed by Warner Bros. and produced by Legendary Entertainment in partnership with Toho (Godzilla series). The first installment was Godzilla (2014), a reboot of the Godzilla franchise. The next film to be released will be Kong: Skull Island (2017), a reboot of the King Kong franchise, followed by Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) and Godzilla vs. Kong (2020).
Development
Legendary Entertainment confirmed at the July 2014 San Diego Comic-Con International that it had acquired the rights to Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah from Toho and revealed concept footage with the closing title cards reading "Conflict: inevitable. Let them fight".[2] In September 2015, Legendary announced that the film Kong: Skull Island would not be developed with Universal Studios. Instead, it would be developed with Warner Bros., which sparked media speculation that Godzilla and King Kong would appear in a film together.[3][4]
In October 2015, Legendary announced plans to unite Godzilla and King Kong in a film titled Godzilla vs. Kong, set for a 2020 release date. Legendary plans to create a shared cinematic franchise "centered around Monarch" (the secret government agency which debuted in 2014's Godzilla) and that "brings together Godzilla and Legendary’s King Kong in an ecosystem of other giant super-species, both classic and new". While Legendary will maintain its home at Universal, it will continue to collaborate with Warner Bros. for the franchise.[5] Later in October, it was announced that Kong: Skull Island will have references to Monarch.[6]
In May 2016, Warner Bros. announced that Godzilla vs. Kong would be released on May 29, 2020, and that Godzilla: King of the Monsters would be pushed back from its original June 2018 release date to March 22, 2019.[7] In October 2016, Legendary announced that Godzilla: King of the Monsters would be filmed at its parent company Wanda's Qingdao Movie Metropolis facility in China, along with Pacific Rim: Uprising.[8] That same month, it was revealed that Legendary is potentially planning a writers room to create their Godzilla–Kong cinematic universe, with Alex Garcia overseeing the project for Legendary.[9]
In early January 2017, it was reported that Thomas Tull (who founded Legendary Entertainment) resigned from the company but will remain as producer for Legendary's Godzilla and King Kong film series, which was revealed to be officially titled MonsterVerse.[10]
Media
Films
Film | U.S. release date | Director(s) | Story by | Screenplay by | Producer(s) | Status |
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Godzilla[5] | May 16, 2014 | Gareth Edwards[11] | David Callaham[12] | Max Borenstein[13] | Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Mary Parent and Brian Rogers | Released |
Kong: Skull Island[14] | March 10, 2017 | Jordan Vogt-Roberts[15] | John Gatins[16] and Dan Gilroy | Dan Gilroy and Max Borenstein | Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Mary Parent and Alex Garcia | Post-production |
Godzilla: King of the Monsters[17] | March 22, 2019[7] | Michael Dougherty[18] | Max Borenstein,[19] Michael Dougherty[9] and Zach Shields[9] | Pre-production | ||
Godzilla vs. Kong[5] | May 29, 2020[7] | TBA | In development |
Comics
Title | Release date | Writer(s) | Story by | Illustrator(s) | Cover Artist(s) | Note |
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Godzilla: Awakening | May 7, 2014 | Max Borenstein and Greg Borenstein | Eric Battle, Yvel Guichet, Alan Quah, and Lee Loughridge | Arthur Adams | Tie-in prequel comic to Godzilla |
Video games
Title | Release date | Developer | Publisher | Note |
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Godzilla: Crisis Defense | May 7, 2014 | Legendary | Legendary | Tie-in web game to Godzilla |
Godzilla: Strike Zone | May 15, 2014 | Warner Bros. Entertainment | Warner Bros. Entertainment | Tie-in mobile game to Godzilla |
Godzilla: Smash 3 | May 16, 2014 | Rogue Play | Pipeworks | Tie-in mobile game to Godzilla |
Reception
Box office performance
Film | North American Release date |
Box office gross | Budget | Ref(s) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North America | Other territories | Worldwide | ||||
Godzilla | May 16, 2014 | $200,676,069 | $328,400,000 | $529,076,069 | $160 million | [20] |
Critical and public response
Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore |
---|---|---|---|
Godzilla | 74% (288 reviews)[21] | 62 (48 reviews)[22] | B+[23] |
Kong: Skull Island | 80% (64 reviews)[24] | 62 (24 reviews)[25] | |
Average | 77% | 62 | — |
See also
- Godzilla (franchise)
- King Kong (franchise)
- MUTO
- Kaiju
- Pacific Rim
- Universal Monsters (2017 film series)
References
- ^ "MonsterVerse Trademark Application of Legendary Pictures, LLC". Justia Trademarks. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
- ^ Wickman, Kase (July 26, 2014). "Holy Mothra: Gareth Edwards Reveals 'Godzilla 2' Monsters At Comic-Con". MTV. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
- ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (September 10, 2015). "King Kong On Move To Warner Bros, Presaging Godzilla Monster Matchup". Deadline. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
- ^ Masters, Kim (September 16, 2015). "Hollywood Gorilla Warfare: It's Universal vs. Legendary Over 'Kong: Skull Island' (and Who Says "Thank You")". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Legendary and Warner Bros. Pictures Announce Cinematic Franchise Uniting Godzilla, King Kong and Other Iconic Giant Monsters" (Press release). Legendary Pictures. October 14, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ^ Masters, Kim (September 16, 2015). "Hollywood Gorilla Warfare: It's Universal vs. Legendary Over 'Kong: Skull Island' (and Who Says "Thank You")". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ a b c Rahman, Abid (May 10, 2016). "Warner Bros. Moves Dates For 'Godzilla 2,' 'Godzilla vs Kong'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- ^ Galuppo, Mia (October 17, 2016). "Wanda Unveils Plans for $8 Billion 'Movie Metropolis,' Reveals Details About Film Incentives". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ a b c Kroll, Justin (October 20, 2016). "Michael Dougherty and Zach Shields to Write 'Godzilla 2' for Legendary (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ Ford, Rebecca; Masters, Kim (January 17, 2017). "Thomas Tull to Exit Legendary Entertainment (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
- ^ McNary, Dave (January 4, 2011). "'Monsters' director to helm 'Godzilla'". Variety. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Fresh Voices (May 22, 2012). "Screenwriter Profile: Dave Callaham". Fresh Voices. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
- ^ Kit, Borys (November 9, 2011). "Legendary's 'Godzilla' Remake to Be Written By Max Borenstein (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ Sciretta, Peter (July 27, 2014). "Legendary Announces King Kong Prequel 'Skull Island' Movie For 2016 [Comic Con 2014]". Slashfilm.com. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
- ^ Fleming, Jr., Mike (September 16, 2014). "Legendary's 'Skull Island'; Tom Hiddleston Stars, Jordan Vogt-Roberts Helms King Kong Origin Tale". Deadline. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (October 30, 2014). "King Kong Tale 'Skull Island' Gets Rewrite From 'Flight' Scribe John Gatins". deadline.com. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
- ^ "Mike Dougherty Confirms the Title is Godzilla: King of "THE" Monsters". Scified. January 29, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (January 23, 2017). "'Godzilla 2' Finds Director in Michael Dougherty". Variety. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
- ^ Fleming Jr, Mike (September 18, 2014). "'Godzilla' Sequel To Be Scripted By Max Borenstein". deadline.com. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
- ^ "Godzilla (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ "Godzilla (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
- ^ "Godzilla". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
- ^ "Box office report: 'Godzilla' demolishes the competition with $93.2 million weekend". Entertainment Weekly. May 18, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
- ^ "Kong: Skull Island (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
- ^ "Kong: Skull Island reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 7, 2017.