“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” First Reactions Tease a Ferocious Kaiju Battle Royale
The first reactions are in for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Adam Wingard’s follow-up to Godzilla vs. Kong, which promises more Kaiju action and a pair of new villains that make even Mecha-Godzilla look tame.
The new villains coming to give Godzilla and Kong a run for their apex predator money are Scar King and Shimu, but you’ll need to see Wingard’s latest to get a better sense of who these new beasts are.
We’ve learned from previous trailers that Godzilla x Kong will find the balance that existed between the greatest of apes in Kong, the king of the Titans in Godzilla, and the rest of the world thrown totally out of whack. Godzilla was a protector of nature; Kong was a protector of humanity—but now that balance is about to be obliterated thanks to some new bruisers were ill intent. Kong, Godzilla, and the young girl Jia (Kaylee Hottle) can sense something is coming.
The new threat is so great that these two legendary beasts will have to team up if they have any hope of stopping the forces arrayed against them. “They’re pretty nasty guys,” director Adam Wingard says of his new bad Kaijus, “but they’re also multifaceted. There’s a lot going on.”
Adam Wingard teases Skar King, Shimo and Suko in #GodzillaXKong pic.twitter.com/bg5K4BcZAX
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) March 26, 2024
So, where have these new brutes been all this time? It turns out the problems have been hidden beneath the surface of our world and are connected to the origins of both Godzilla and Kong. Brian Tyree Henry joins returning Godzilla vs. Kong stars Rebecca Hall and Kaylee Hottle. Newcomers include Dan Stevens (who the reactions state was clearly having a ball), 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), and works once again wth Godzilla vs. Kong alums cinematographer Ben Seresin, production designer Tom Hammock, editor Josh Schaeffer, and composers Tom Holkenborg and Antonio Di Iorio.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire arrives on March 29.
Let’s take a brief tour of the initial reactions:
#GodzillaXKong hits plenty of sweet spots for me! Tons of wild kaiju action, a brutal villain for Kong, a powered-up Godzilla, Dan Stevens having a blast, some legit surprises, and so many colors. Bring me more MonsterVerse! pic.twitter.com/eaxDkJwmnF
— Aaron Neuwirth (@AaronsPS4) March 26, 2024
#GodzillaXKong is nonstop/fun Kaiju action that fans of monster movies love. Both Godzilla and Kong take centerstage in this latest entry in Legendary’s evolving Monsterverse.
Brian Tyree Henry & Dan Stevens are fun together. But this movie belongs to the giant monsters. pic.twitter.com/daJ3UyIbsW
— B E A N Z (Miss U Mom) (@BeanzGotGamez) March 26, 2024
#GodzillaXKong is an ATOMIC BLAST! A fantastically weird, psychedelic trip through the Shōwa Era w/all the vibrance of an 80s album cover. This thing is an absurdist romp – crimson apes, frost dragons, a delightfully absurd Dan Stevens. Another FUN entry in the MonsterVerse! pic.twitter.com/Qmzx8Jytug
— Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) March 26, 2024
#GodzillaXKong is a really great King Kong movie. The human stuff is notably clunky (poor Rebecca Hall saddled with so much dry exposition) but Kong has so many scenes centered on him and I just loved the big guy. And the final fight sequences are pure monster mayhem delight. pic.twitter.com/un2iVtHz8f
— Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) March 26, 2024
GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE rules. Dir. Adam Wingard fully embraces the tone of a fantasy rock opera, complete with a synth-heavy score, heavy metal visuals, and killer 80s needledrops.
Incredibly silly and heartfelt at times, it’s a sincere love letter to the Shōwa Era. pic.twitter.com/bwRJvJdSpb
— Andrew J. Salazar (@AndrewJ626) March 26, 2024
GODZILLA X KONG is an absurdly fun ride. A teaming of titans with tremendous scale and a fast-paced adventure. This movie knows to deliver pure fun on a huge scale. My advice, just strap in and enjoy the ride. pic.twitter.com/w8WCk2c0C1
— Heroes Unbound (@HeroesUnbound) March 26, 2024
#GodzillaXKong is a momentous spectacle that dazzles with its vibrant technicolor visuals. The epic battles btwn the titans are jaw-dropping and are accompanied by a story with a gargantuan heart. Plus, there’s Dan Stevens flexing in a Hawaiian shirt for 2 hours. pic.twitter.com/PsBMAdsQjH
— Shannon | #FreePalestine 🇵🇸 (@shannon_mcgrew) March 26, 2024
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is the most enjoyable MonsterVerse movie yet, the one where it feels everybody understood the assignment. Story is a bit thin, but the titan smashing more than makes up for it. #GodzillaXKong pic.twitter.com/gk8gDeYXhT
— Ian Sandwell (@ian_sandwell) March 26, 2024
#GodzillaXKong is like an ‘80s cartoon come to life; this thing is so insanely colorful and toyetic, it’d shock Joel Schumacher. Collects a compelling coterie of non-humans in an AVATAR meets PLANET OF THE APES way, and as for humans, Dan Stevens is having a ball. So was I! pic.twitter.com/0Gf1Wmh4re
— Bill Bria (@billbria) March 26, 2024
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Featured image: Caption: (L to r) GODZILLA and 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
