Adam Wingard’s Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire shattered box office expectations and overperformed in its opening weekend. While most critics have not enjoyed the film. audiences are lapping it up and celebrating the reunion of Godzilla and Kong and their team-up to face a terrifying new threat. The Monsterverse continues its success streak and is not stopping anytime soon.
The success of the film makes it highly likely that Warner Bros and Legendary will soon announce a third film with Wingard returning to finish his trilogy. The director has already expressed his desire to complete it and now the heads at Legendary are optimistic about a third film happening soon, for witnessing the impressive box office collections.
Godzilla x Kong Sequel is Imminent After the Film’s Impressive Box Office Hold
When Godzilla x Kong was nearing its release date, many did not believe that the film would open very big. When it was released, it overperformed at the box office. earning $80 million at the domestic box office (it was projected for a $50-55 million opening via Variety). To date, the film has collected $361 million worldwide against a budget of $134 million (via Box Office Mojo). The film is already a hit and this makes the possibility of a third film directed by Adam Wingard very likely to happen.
Mary Parent, who’s the chairman of worldwide production Legendary recently talked about the film’s impressive box office performance. Parent revealed that the studio is indeed very happy with the results and they are in a good position to continue the journey of Kong and Godzilla. Parent told The Hollywood Reporter,
“This is certainly an exciting result. We are in a good position to continue the journey, but let’s see how Godzilla x Kong unfolds. These are early days, but we are certainly feeling good.”
Director Wingard previously expressed his hopes of a third film before the release of Godzilla x Kong. The New Empire. He stated to The Hollywood Reporter that he intends to finish his trilogy and take the franchise in a new direction if a third film happens.
“There’s always the seduction of making a trilogy out of it, and I think that there’s some untapped areas to go into. There’s also ways to continue to innovate the stylized approach to the MonsterVerse, and what’s great about the MonsterVerse is that it’s allowed so many different directors to approach it with their unique style and color palette.
Obviously, I wouldn’t make this decision until we see how [The New Empire] performs at the box office, but I would definitely have some interest in doing another one of these. There’s a way to continue to innovate, and as a director, it would be exciting because I would take an even different approach next time. But regardless of that, yeah, there’s a whole lot of potential, and hopefully, there’s going to be demand.”
The box office proves that audiences want more kaiju battles and larger-than-life spectacles out of the franchise. With a third film with Wingard most likely happening, it remains to be seen where he takes the franchise and the characters next.
Adam Wingard Wrote Trapper Specifically for Dan Stevens in Godzilla x Kong
Director Adam Wingard and Rebecca Hall return for another round in the Monsterverse with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire after 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong. Additionally, the project is a reunion for Wingard and franchise newbie Dan Stevens, who collaborated on 2014’s The Guest. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stevens revealed that his role was specifically designed for him by Wingard.
Stevens stated that Wingard and writer Simon Barrett wrote the role of Trapper with him in mind. Interestingly, when Hall read the script, she immediately shared Wingard’s intentions about Stevens being the perfect fit for the role. He said,
“Simon Barrett and Adam had already written the role of Trapper very much with me in mind, and when Rebecca read it [without knowing the inspiration behind the role], she immediately was like, “Well, Dan obviously has to play this.” So that was a lovely endorsement. She recognized me in the role before I’d even seen the script myself.”
Following the success of the film, Stevens will next star in the upcoming horror film Abigail alongside Melissa Barrera, Kathryn Newton, and Alisha Weir. The film is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett who previously directed Ready or Not, Scream V and VI, and will hit theaters on April 19, 2024.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is currently running successfully in theaters.
