After the success of the first two films in the newly-created “MonsterVerse” over at Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros, which involves Godzilla and King Kong to name a few, the studios are pressing ahead with the latest installment, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and have added actress Zhang Ziyi to both star in the sequel and in the rest of the franchise going forward. (via Deadline)
Following on from the first film released in 2014, the sequel is co-written and directed by Michael Dougherty (Krampus) and is set several years after the events of the first installment, which starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Nocturnal Animals), Elizabeth Olsen (Wind River), Juliette Binoche (Clouds of Sils Maria), Sally Hawkins (Maudie) and Bryan Cranston (Wakefield) and was directed by Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story).
SEE ALSO: Exclusive Interview with Tom Hiddleston on Kong: Skull Island
Ziyi is best known for her roles in Memoirs of a Geisha, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Rush Hour 2 and joins a cast that has already secured the services of Kyle Chandler (Manchester by the Sea), Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring 2), Millie Bobbie Brown (Stranger Things), Bradley Whitford (Get Out) and Ken Watanabe, who reprises his role as Dr. Ishiro Serizawa from the first film.
SEE ALSO: Exclusive Interview with Brie Larson on Kong: Skull Island
The sequel will then lead into the ultimate MonsterVerse battle, which will see Godzilla face off against King Kong in Godzilla Vs. Kong, set for release in 2020 and to be directed by Adam Wingard (Blair Witch, The Guest).
Kong, of course, was resurrected this spring in Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ Kong: Skull Island, which starred Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, John Goodman, John C. Reilly, Tony Kebbell and Samuel L. Jackson, and has so far grossed over $565million worldwide.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is due for release on March 22nd, 2019.
