Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will not concern itself with any of the previous controversies the past installments have gotten themselves into, most especially the racist themes. Director Adam Wingard promised fans that the upcoming monster movie would be all about masculinity.
Indeed, the new installment will bring the mighty Kong and the formidable Godzilla against a giant threat hidden within our world. The cast includes Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen, and Rachel House. Millie Bobby Brown is reportedly not returning.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Won’t Be Dealing With Races
During his interview with SFX Magazine, director Adam Wingard revealed his major inspiration for Kong in the upcoming Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
“There’s just something about the iconography of Kong that really relates to people. He’s sort of a representation of our baser instincts and vulnerabilities as human beings. Kong really is the last masculine hero in movies. They just don’t make them like that anymore.”
Apart from the subject of masculinity, he also gives credit to James Caan in the neo-noir heist action thriller Thief. For him, the actor delivered the most masculine character he has ever seen in the history of cinema.
“A big influence on me from that perspective is one of my favorite films, Michael Mann’s Thief. James Caan’s performance is one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. It’s the most masculine performance, I feel, in film history. He’s got his hairy chest, his hairy arms, and all that.”
Indeed, Wingard’s take on Kong will be a far cry from the infamous King Kong movie helmed by Peter Jackson in 2005, starring Andy Serkis, Naomi Watts, Jack Black, and Adrien Brody. University of Michigan professor Robin Means Coleman, who studied the racial representation in King Kong movies for years, stated via NPR:
“King Kong was clearly also a metaphor for race, for Black masculinity. That’s the low-hanging fruit of Black metaphors. This is, again, a big, Black man – right? – a big, Black ape who is absolutely obsessed with whiteness and particularly White women.”
With Wingard veering away from depicting racial overtones in his movie using a giant Black ape, his interpretation will be highly anticipated by the audience.
Kong’s Exploration Of Masculinity And Sensitivity
As the director previously stated Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will explore the beast’s masculine side, Wingard makes sure to keep it balanced. He further said in the same conversation with SFX Magazine that Kong will also be sensitive.
“He’s masculine because he’s a sensitive guy as well. In this film, it’s all about his loneliness and him wanting to find others. What really, truly brings out what makes Kong such an interesting, very macho character is the sensitivity he can have as well.”
It’s nice to hear that Kong will display various aspects of himself in the upcoming film, including his vulnerable side. Be sure to mark your calendars and catch Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire in theaters this March 29, 2024.
