GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, which reaches theatres later this month, isn't the only Godzilla film TRICK 'R TREAT director Mike Dougherty has worked on. Speaking with SFX Magazine, Dougherty confirmed that he has also worked on the screenplay for the upcoming MonsterVerse crossover GODZILLA VS. KONG, which is going to be in theatres in just ten months.
Directed by Adam Wingard (THE GUEST, YOU'RE NEXT) from a script written by Dougherty and Terry Rossio, GODZILLA VS. KONG stars Alexander Skarsgard, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Eiza Gonzalez, Jessica Henwick, Julian Dennison, Demian Bichir, Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler, and Shun Oguri.
The film, which will see the Godzilla of Dougherty's KING OF THE MONSTERS and Gareth Edwards' 2014 GODZILLA clashing with the Kong of Jordan Vogt-Roberts' KONG: SKULL ISLAND, has the following synopsis:
In a time when monsters walk the Earth, humanity’s fight for its future sets Godzilla and Kong on a collision course that will see the two most powerful forces of nature on the planet collide in a spectacular battle for the ages. As Monarch embarks on a perilous mission into uncharted terrain and unearths clues to the Titans’ origins, a human conspiracy threatens to wipe the creatures, both good and bad, from the face of the earth forever.
During his interview with SFX, Dougherty made it clear that it's going to be tough to choose a side when we see Godzilla and Kong battle. While Godzilla is being built up as humanity's only hope in a fight against other giant creatures in KING OF THE MONSTERS, Kong has also been established as a friend of sorts to humanity – and he'll once again be bonding with human co-stars in GODZILLA VS. KONG.
Discussing how writing for Kong differs from writing for Godzilla, Dougherty said:
Because Kong is a little close to human – he's a primate, as we are – he's allowed to show a slightly larger range of emotions. We expect those very unique, and even warm, bonding moments between Kong and human beings. That goes back to the 1933 film, where he was never strictly a monster; there was always a very human side of him in the way he interacts with us. That was a joy to write. With Godzilla, that's not expected. That's not to say you can't do it, but any kind of bond between Godzilla and humans has been more implied. So you rarely get to see Godzilla's softer side. Whereas with Kong, it's an essential part of his character. If you ever made a Kong film where you didn't get to see the softer side of the character, it would fall short."
I'm looking forward to watching GODZILLA VS. KONG, even though I don't really want to see these versions of the characters beat up on each other.
GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS will be in theatres on May 31st, and GODZILLA VS. KONG will follow on March 13, 2020.