“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” Will Stomp Into Theaters Early

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is going to be smashing, stomping, and fire-breathing into theaters two weeks earlier than originally expected.

Legendary and Warner Bros. announced that director Adam Wingard’s upcoming film, the fifth in the MonsterVerse franchise, will now hit theaters on March 29 instead of April 12. The new spot was previously the premiere date for Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-Ho’s Mickey 17, his first film since his masterpiece Parasite, that is now being delayed by post-strike shifts. A new date for Mickey 17 is expected soon.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire promises an extended look at what we only got for a few minutes during the climatic final battle in Godzilla vs. Kong, when the two legendary titans stopped battling each other and teamed up to take out Mechagodzilla. The human-created Mechagodzilla gave Godzilla and Kong a jolt of recognition—wait, maybe we’re not enemies, and in The New Empire, their newfound status as brothers-in-arms will be explored. In the first trailer for the follow-up, cinema’s two most iconic movie monsters are side-by-side again, this time against a mysterious foe that goes unnamed but is certain to be an even bigger challenge.

The new threat has been hidden beneath the surface of our world and is connected to the origins of both Godzilla and Kong, and Kong’s home, Skull Island. Godzilla vs Kong director Adam Wingard returns, along with stars Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Kaylee Hottle. Newcomers include Dan Stevens, Alex Ferns, and Fala Chen. Wingard directs from a script by Godzilla vs. Kong scribe Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett (You’re Next), and Jeremy Slater (Moon Knight).

Wingard is also once again working with Godzilla vs. Kong alums in cinematographer Ben Seresin, production designer Tom Hammock, editor Josh Schaeffer, and composers Tom Holkenborg and Antonio Di Iorio.

For more on Godzilla x Kong and the Monsterverse franchise, check out these stories:

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” Trailer Roars Into View

“Godzilla vs. Kong” Sequel Gets its Title

“Godzilla vs Kong 2” Synopsis Reveals Epic Continuation of Monster Fight

“Godzilla vs. Kong” VFX Supervisor on Creating Titan Title Match of the Ages

Featured image: Caption: KONG in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure “GODZILLA x KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures