The planned Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
sequel gets a new update, confirming the casting of a star of The Last of Us. Following the success of Godzilla vs. Kong in 2021, director Adam Wingard returned to Legendary’s Monsterverse last year with the release of The New Empire, which featured Godzilla and Kong teaming up to take down the Skar King. Now, director Grant Sputore is set to take the franchise’s reins for the Godzilla x Kong sequel, which is expected to hit theaters in 2027.
Deadline now reports that The Last of Us season 2 star Kaitlyn Dever is in negotiations to join the Godzilla x Kong sequel in an unknown role. While story details for the movie remain under wraps, the report claims that the sequel will introduce several new human characters as Godzilla and Kong attempt to stop a “world-ending threat.” In addition, the report notes that Legendary is putting a greater focus on enhancing the franchise’s human characters in the next movie, with Dever set to play a major role in that regard.
Dever is set to play Abby in HBO’s The Last of Us season 2, and she’s also known for No One Will Save You (2023), Booksmart (2019), and Unbelievable (2019).
What Kaitlyn Dever’s Casting Means For The Godzilla X Kong Sequel
Who Else Could Be Returning In The New Empire Follow-Up?
The next film will seemingly continue the story after the Godzilla x Kong ending, which features the defeat of the Skar King and the undoing of Shimo’s ice age. Godzilla is last seen lying down to rest inside the Colosseum in Rome, while Kong travels to Hollow Earth to serve as the new leader for a tribe of his own kind. Crucially, Kong is accompanied by Suko, a baby ape, teasing a potential “Son of Kong”-type story to come in a future film.
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As far as the human characters in the Godzilla x Kong cast, the next film could feature the return of Rebecca Hall as Ilene Andrews, Brian Tyree Henry as Bernie Hayes, and Kaylee Hottle as Jia. The most recent film also introduces Dan Stevens as Trapper, who was frequently cited in reviews as a standout. With the report noting that the Godzilla x Kong sequel will be attempting to make human characters a more compelling part of the narrative, it’s possible that all these actors will be returning with an increased focus on their emotional arcs.
Our Take On Dever’s Godzilla X Kong Sequel Casting
The No One Will Save You Star Could Be A Strong Inclusion
Over the last few years, Dever has proven herself to be one of the most talented young actors working in Hollywood today, and her star power is very much on the rise. She serves as the protagonist and one of the only human characters in the standout No One Will Save You, and she’s certainly deserving of a major role in the upcoming Monsterverse film.
With Legendary interested in creating more compelling human characters, Dever seems like a strong place to start, as many of her best roles are in more character and performance-driven movies. Her inclusion could ultimately help to strike a strong balance between bombastic monster action and compelling human stories, which means the upcoming Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire sequel could end up being a Monsterverse highlight.
Source: Deadline
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
- Release Date
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March 29, 2024
- Runtime
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115 Minutes
- Director
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Adam Wingard
- Writers
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Terry Rossio, Adam Wingard, Simon Barrett, Jeremy Slater