The next trip to the MonsterVerse isn’t right around the corner, but at least we now know when it will be. The follow-up to 2024’s hitGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire(which becamethe highest-grossing installment of the cinematic universeto date) has been scheduled for release. According toCollider, the monster mash will roar its way into theaters on July 22, 2025. This continues the three-year gap between installments seen with March 2021’sGodzilla vs. Kongand March 2024’sThe New Empire.
While it is currently unknown whether the next MonsterVerse installment will feature the return of Rebecca Hall as Dr. Ilene Andrews or Kaylee Hottle as her adopted daughter, Jia, the franchise has been known to unceremoniously drop characters after they appear in one or two movies (Millie Bobby Brown’s Madison Russell, for instance). The dynamic of Andrews and Jia is the strongest human element seen in the cinematic universe thus far, so hopefully their continued presence in the franchise should be on the cards.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
The untitled third Godzilla and Kongmovie will mark the sixth MonsterVerse film in total since Gareth Edwards Godzilla reboot in 2014. The output of the franchise has increased in the past few years, withGodzilla vs. Kong, Apple TV+‘sMonarch: Legacy of Monsters, andGodzilla x Kong: The New Empireall coming out within a three-year span. And depending on who you ask - and how they feel about the absolute rollercoaster ride that isThe New Empire -it’s also a franchise that’s found a bit more solid footing. Though, again, time will tell if that remains the case with the newest installment, which has lost Adam Wingard as director after he successfully delivered two of the biggest entries in the franchise.
What Do We Know About Godzilla vs. Kong 3?
As mentioned, Wingard is a busy man and had to step back from a third venture with the MonsterVerse’s many kaiju. So, who’s replacing him?That would be Grant Sputore, director of the Netflix sci-fi filmI Am Mother, starring Hilary Swank and featuring the voice of Rose Byrne. This will mark Sputore’s first time behind the camera for a high-budgeted film, but that shouldn’t spark a flame of concern, as the same could be said of Wingard when he was appointed to helm Godzilla vs. Kong.
Toho’s ‘Godzilla Room’ Reveals the Strict Rules All Godzilla Projects Must Comply With - Even the MonsterVerse
Godzilla may have seen many iterations, but everything from movies to McDonald’s promotions have to stick to some very strict rules.
That film, likeThe New Empire,showed that the Godzilla and Kongmovies are at their best when they actually have the two Titans team up. After all, the first movie had them bash their way through Hong Kong in one of the more visually stunning action sequences seen in any movie starring either monster. So, the question is, who will they be pitted against in their next adventure? MechaGodzilla is out of the way, and a more intimidating version of Kong has been kicked to the curb, so who can be even more monstrous than those antagonists? Perhaps Legendary can go into the Toho well and pull out a Hedorah, the smog monster, or Destoroyah, arguably the most vicious beast the Big G has ever faced.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empirewill stream on Max from July 4.
