David Farnor | On 14, Apr 2024

Legendary’s Monsterverse is getting bigger and bigger, with Apple TV+ renewing Monarch: Legacy of Monsters for Season 2 – while also ordering multiple spin-off series based on the franchise.

Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that levelled San Francisco, and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters tracks two siblings following in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later when Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows.

The live-action series brought the Monsterverse to the small screen, after it began in 2014 with Godzilla. It has since continued with Kong: Skull Island in 2017, Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 2019, Godzilla vs. Kong in 2021, and most recently Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Also on the small screen, Legendary partnered with Netflix in 2023 for animated spin-off series Skull Island. Now, the Monsterverse continues to grow with a new multi-series deal between Apple TV+ and Legendary – marking not just a successful growth of IP but a rare example in the streaming world of a franchise spanning multiple platforms and distributors.

“This adventurous, action-packed romp deftly balances big monsters and tiny human drama,” we wrote in our review of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

Season 2 will be executive produced by showrunners and co-creators Chris Black and Matt Fraction, along with Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell from Safehouse Pictures, and Matt Shakman, Andrew Colville and Jen Roskind. Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita executive produce on behalf of Toho Co Ltd, the owner of the Godzilla character. Toho licensed the rights to Legendary Entertainment for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters as a natural byproduct of their long-term relationship with the film franchise.

“Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has left an indelible imprint on the hearts, minds and imaginations of audiences around the world, led by the brilliance of Chris, Matt, Kurt, Wyatt and the incredibly gifted and talented cast and creative team,” said Morgan Wandell, head of international development for Apple TV+. “We couldn’t be more excited for viewers to not only have the chance to experience even more thrills in season two, but to embark on epic, new journeys in the franchise as we expand Legendary’s Monsterverse.”

 

Watch: First trailer for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

9th September 2023

“The world is on fire. I decided to do something about it.” That’s the sound of Apple wading into kaiju waters this November, and a new trailer gives us a closer glimpse of what’s in store in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

The 10-episode series continues Legendary’s expansion of its Monsterverse, which began in 2014 with Godzilla and continued with 2017’s Kong: Skull Island, 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters and 2021’s Godzilla vs Kong. It picks up in the wake of the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that levelled San Francisco, and the shocking revelation that monsters are real. Keeping the focus on humans, it follows two siblings seeking to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organisation known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows.

The saga – spanning three generations – reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, Earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives. 

Co-developed and executive produced by Chris Black and Matt Fraction – with WandaVision Matt Shakman directing the first two episodes – the series stars Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski. You can see them in action on 17th November, when the first two episodes arrive, followed by one episode every Friday through to the finale on 12th January.

Here’s the video:

 

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters: First look at Apple’s Godzilla series

20th August 2023

Godzilla is heading to Apple TV+, joined by a starry cast – and new images give us a first look at the new series.

Now titled Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, the 10-part series will continue to expand Legendary Entertainment’s Monsterverse, which began in 2014 with Godzilla and continued with 2017’s Kong: Skull Island, 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters and 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong. The series will pick up after the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking revelation that monsters are real. It tracks two siblings following in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows. The dramatic saga — spanning three generations — reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.

Also in the cast are Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski. Behind the camera, it is co-developed by Chris Black (Severance, Star Trek: Enterprise, Outcast) and Matt Fraction (Hawkeye), with Matt Shakman (“WandaVision”) directing the first two episodes.

Here’s your first look at the series:

 

Pachinko’s Anna Sawai to star in Apple’s Godzilla series

2nd July 2022

Pachinko’s Anna Sawai is heading back to Apple TV+ to star in its new Godzilla series.

Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that levelled San Francisco and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, the series explores one family’s journey to uncover its buried secrets and a legacy linking them to the secret organisation known as Monarch.

The untitled Monsterverse series will be produced by Legendary Television and executive produced by co-creators Chris Black (Star Trek: Enterprise, Outcast), who will also serve as showrunner, and Matt Fraction (Hawkeye), with WandaVision’s Matt Shakman directing the first two episodes.

Now, the project is lining up its key talent in front of the camera, with Anna Sawai to play Cate, a teacher and G-Day survivor who travels to Japan to settle family affairs and uncovers a secret.

Ren Watabe has also joined the cast as Kentaro, a creative and curious young man looking to find out more about his revered but mysterious father.

Kiersey Clemons (Zack Snyder’s Justice League) will play May, an American expat, Joe Tippett (Mare of Easttown) will play Tim, an office worker with dreams of becoming a secret agent, and Elisa Lasowski (Versailles) will play Duvall, an experienced secret agent.
 

Apple TV+ orders Godzilla and Titans series

21st January 2022

Apple TV+ has given a series order for a new original live-action series from Legendary’s Monsterverse franchise. Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that levelled San Francisco and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, the series explores one family’s journey to uncover its buried secrets and a legacy linking them to the secret organisation known as Monarch.

The untitled Monsterverse series will be produced by Legendary Television and executive produced by co-creators Chris Black (Star Trek: Enterprise, Outcast), who will also serve as showrunner, and Matt Fraction (Hawkeye), alongside Safehouse Pictures’ Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell, and Toho Co., Ltd. Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita will executive produce for Toho. Toho has licensed the rights to Legendary for this series as a natural byproduct of their long-term relationship on the film franchise.

Legendary’s Monsterverse began in 2014 with Godzilla and continued with 2017’s Kong: Skull Island, 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters and 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong, Monsterverse films have accumulated close to 2 billion dollars globally at the box office and the universe is ever expanding with the latest iteration being a new anime series for Netflix, Skull Island.

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