“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is a 2024 American monster movie directed by Adam Wingard. Produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it acts as a sequel to “Godzilla vs. Kong” (2021) and is the fifth installment in the Monsterverse franchise, marking the 38th film in the Godzilla series and the 13th in the King Kong series. The cast includes Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, and Fala Chen, with Hall, Henry, and Hottle reprising their roles from the previous film. The storyline follows Kong as he encounters more of his species in the Hollow Earth and teams up with Godzilla once again to thwart their tyrannical leader and his frost-breathing monster from attacking the Earth’s surface.
After the success of “Godzilla vs. Kong” during the COVID-19 pandemic, Legendary announced the sequel in March 2022, with filming scheduled to begin later that year. Wingard returned to direct, and Stevens was announced as a lead cast member in May 2022. Principal photography took place from July to November 2022 in the Gold Coast, Australia. The movie premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on March 25, 2024, and was released in the United States on March 29. Critical reception was mixed, with comparisons made to “Godzilla Minus One.” Despite this, it grossed $559 million worldwide against a budget of $135–150 million, becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 2024 and the top-grossing Godzilla film to date. A sequel is currently in development.
CHARACTERS
- Rebecca Hall portrays Dr. Ilene Andrews.
- Brian Tyree Henry takes on the role of Bernie Hayes.
- Dan Stevens appears as John Trapper.
- Kaylee Hottle plays Jia.
- Alex Ferns is cast as Mikael.
- Fala Chen portrays the Iwi Queen.
- Rachel House is featured as Hampton.
- Ron Smyck is credited as Harris.
- Chantelle Jamieson plays Jayne.
- Greg Hatton appears as Lewis.
- Kevin Copeland is the Submarine Commander.
- Tess Dobré portrays a Submarine Officer.
- Tim Carroll is credited as Wilcox.
- Anthony Brandon Wong is the Talk Show Announcer.
STORYLINE
Three years after defeating Mechagodzilla, Kong has established his new domain in the Hollow Earth and seeks out more of his kind. Meanwhile, Godzilla maintains peace on Earth’s surface, eliminating threats like Scylla in Rome before resting in the Colosseum.
A Monarch observation post in Hollow Earth detects an unknown signal, causing Jia, the last survivor of the Iwi tribe, to experience visions. Concerned, Dr. Ilene Andrews, Jia’s adoptive mother and a Kong expert, investigates. Godzilla, sensing the signal, leaves Rome, absorbs radiation at a nuclear plant in France, and heads to the Arctic. Kong discovers a hidden realm near his home where a tribe of his species survives. Bonding with a juvenile named Suko, Kong learns of the tribe’s plight under the tyrannical leader Skar King, who controls an ice-powered Titan named Shimo. Despite losing his axe and sustaining injuries, Kong escapes with Suko’s aid.
Andrews, Jia, Titan veterinarian Trapper, and podcaster Bernie Hayes journey to Hollow Earth to trace the signal. They find the outpost destroyed and encounter the surviving Iwi tribe. Exploring ruins, they uncover a prophecy revealing Skar King’s past and the role of Jia in awakening Mothra.
Equipped with a prototype exoskeletal glove, Kong joins the fight against Skar King and Shimo. Mothra’s intervention leads Godzilla and Kong to confront them in Hollow Earth, with the battle spilling over to Rio de Janeiro. Suko aids Kong in defeating Skar King and Shimo. After restoring balance, Godzilla returns to the surface, while Jia chooses to stay with Andrews. Mothra restores the Iwi’s protective barrier, and Kong becomes the leader of the ape tribe in Hollow Earth.
