Godzilla fans were dealt a huge blow when the release date of Godzilla vs Kong was delayed by eight months. Warner Bros. had previously cited their ambition to improve the movie further as a main reason after the disappointing box-office haul of Godzilla: King of the Monsters. It appears the studio intends to live by that promise.
Godzilla Movies, a diligent publication that carries Godzilla news, has learned that Godzilla vs Kong is undergoing reshoots. The nature or size of the reshoots is unclear although these should not push the movie further ahead of its November 20 release date. It could be major plot changes or minor pick-up shots to aid in post-production processes such as editing and VFX.
While reshoots are a major part of any movie, I’m curious as to whether I should glean anything from the timing of these reshoots and the announcement of the delay. Perhaps director Adam Wingard and crew are strengthening the movie’s core storyline to supplement with strong plot what could otherwise be a full-blown action movie. With two monsters already at its helm and with more rumored to make an appearance, this thing could get bloated fast if unchecked.
Another bit of news that has surfaced is the inclusion of Skull-Crawlers. First seen in Kong: Skull Island, the Skull-Crawlers added significantly to that movie’s horror component and could very well be partially responsible for the reshoots that are happening. Perhaps the studio and filmmaker have figured out a nice way to include them in some final, climactic battle? Or perhaps they’re shooting more scenes with Kong battling the Skull-Crawlers before he makes his way to the megapolis to battle Godzilla.
Legendary’s MonsterVerse has had three movies release thus far, ranging from decent to okay box-office returns. 2014’s Godzilla reintroduced the beast to modern audiences, with 2017’s Kong: Skull Island offering a new, Apocalypse Now inspired take on America’s oldest monster. Both were box-office successes, grossing upwards of $500 million worldwide. 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters was less so, making just over $385 million on a $170 million production budget.
Godzilla vs Kong is the next installment in the MonsterVerse and is set for a November 20, 2020 release. That date should provide some nifty opportunities for marketing across trailers.