Legendary’s Monsterverse returns, uncovering secrets deeper than an underground kingdom! This time Apple TV+ has it, with a 10-episode series that spans decades and fills in the gaps between Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla, and Godzilla, King of the Monsters. With Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, the focus will be on the super-secret organization trying to strike a balance between protecting kaiju and protecting humanity.
Co-developed by Chris Black and Matt Fraction, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters follows
…the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled 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 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.
Though not credited, John Goodman’s Bill Randa from Kong: Skull Island obviously has an impact, even if only in archive footage. Randa was a key player in Monarch, and though that film set up more with characters played by Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larsen, that was never followed up. At least a few direct threads may run through this series. Whether directly connected to the officer played by father and son Russells, it’s a bonus that someone finally thought to cast them as the same character in different decades.
With the direct tie-in to Kong: Skull Island, the series has my interest. Of all Legendary’s Monsterverse projects (allowed courtesy of Toho Studios, who have their own Godzilla project coming), that’s the one that struck the best balance between all-out monster action and the drama playing out amongst the relatively little (to kaiju) people. Let the films fill the screen with the impossible, as will happen in 2024’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. I want to see more about the people trying to make sense of it all.
Based on Legendary’s Monsterverse, and starring Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” will debut with the first two episodes, followed by one episode every Friday through January 12. The first two episodes are directed by Matt Shakman (Wandavision and the upcoming Fantastic Four).
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