Legendary Is Teaming With Netflix To Finally Move Forward With A Live-Action Gundam Movie!

 Written By: Ken Hulsey

Legendary Pictures is finally moving forward with the long-awaited Gundam movie project, which was first announced at the Anime Expo in Los Angeles back in 2018. Since then, the project has gone through multiple script revisions and changes in directors. Despite these challenges, the studio remained committed to producing a live-action Gundam film. Recently, it was announced that Legendary has secured a release platform through Netflix, a company known for adapting Japanese anime into live-action, with "Cowboy Bebop" being a notable example. Indie director Jim Mickle, who directed the acclaimed TV series "Sweet Tooth," is set to helm the project, which will feature actors Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo. It is still unclear whether the Gundam movie will be given a theatrical release or will premiere directly on streaming.

Warner Bros Releases New Teaser For Godzilla x Kong Sequel

 It looks like there is an even bigger and nastier giant ape living in the Hollow Earth than Kong!

Warner Bros has just released the first teaser trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and it features yet another super-sized Simeon that wants to add both Godzilla and Kong to its massive boneyard. 

Little is actually known about the film except that it will be directed by Adam Wingard (Godzilla x Kong) and will star Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Kaylee Hottle, Dan Stevens, Fala Chen and Rachel House. So far both Warner Bros and Legendary have been rather tight lipped about the project only hinting that Godzilla and Kong would, “team up to face a world-ending threat so terrifying that neither could survive alone,” and this trailer seems to show us who that threat is.

To be honest this one looks a little disappointing, I like most Godzilla movie fans were hoping to see more monsters from the original Japanese movie series like Gigan, Biollante or even Anguirus, all of whom have been rumored to be connected with this project.

 Check Out:

Godzilla Goes Prime-Time! - Godzilla vs Megalon On NBC In 1977

Fans Go Insane For Godzilla: King of the Monsters

The hits just keep on coming in 2019, and according to these early reactions to Michael Dougherty’s monster mash sequel, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, fans might have the kind of Godzilla film that was only briefly glimpsed in Gareth Edwards underrated original.

Here’s a small selection to stoke the blue flames of anticipation before Godzilla: King of the Monsters hits cinema screens on May 31st.

#GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters is the modern day Godzilla movie you’ve been waiting for. It’s everything the 2014 Godzilla isn’t, while still retaining the best elements of that film and elevating them x 100. Monstrous action that rattles the theater. So damn good. @GodzillaMovie pic.twitter.com/claFZH3oq1

— Paul Shirey (@arcticninjapaul) May 10, 2019

Social reaction embargo has lifted on #GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters, so I can finally say OH MY GODZILLA YESSSSS! If your biggest complaint of #Godzilla 2014 was not enough monster time, DEFINITELY get it in this! Let them fight! Had a great time from start to finish! #godzillamovie pic.twitter.com/8qNfQ3P9b9

— Andre (@BlackNerd) May 11, 2019

#GodzillaMovie is the film I’ve waited years for. The thrilling sequel captures the spirit of Japan’s famous kaiju while setting up his reign for years to come. There are few words which describe the film as well as momentous, and its epic scale will leave audiences of astounded.

— Megan Peters (@meganpeterscb) May 11, 2019

Godzilla: King of the Monsters rules so goddamn hard. Easily the most fun I’ve had in theaters all year and the best Monsterverse entry yet. The scale is mind-boggling & every action scene could be your new desktop wallpaper. See it on the biggest screen possible. #GodzillaMovie pic.twitter.com/YoZrAAjey1

— Dan Casey (@DanCasey) May 11, 2019

Am now free to say #GodzillaMovie King of the Monsters is handily the craziest, most entertaining American kaiju movie in existence. But that doesn't do justice to just how wild a ride this is, jumping from the majesty of the monsters to the wackiness of the humans...

— David Crow (@DCrowsNest) May 11, 2019

The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters is set for release on May 31st, 2019 and sees Michael Dougherty (Krampus) directing returning Godzilla stars Sally Hawkins (Dr. Vivienne Graham) and Ken Watanabe (Dr. Ishiro Serizawa), and new additions Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things), Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights), O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Outta Compton), Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel), Aisha Hinds (Star Trek Into Darkness), Charles Dance (Game of Thrones), Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley), Zhang Ziyi (The Grandmaster), Randy Havens (Stranger Things) and Elizabeth Ludlow (The Walking Dead).

Godzilla King of the Monsters to pay homage to original 1954 film

From Cinema Blend

Godzilla has been keeping a low profile in the MonsterVerse over the last several years, but this summer, the beast is finally making his grand return and will prove he reigns supreme over the other Titans in Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Krampus' Michael Dougerty directed and co-wrote the sequel, and one of the ways he left his own stamp on Godzilla was by having the spikes on his back look like the ones from the monster's first cinematic appearance back in 1954. Dougherty explained:

"With Godzilla, I really liked what [director Gareth Edwards] had done in the previous film with Godzilla's look, so I just wanted to make tiny tweaks, like changing his back spikes to look like the 1954 Godzilla. These, in particular, were taken right off the back of the original 1954 Godzilla. So I took Photoshop, and just photoshopped these spikes onto the back of Gareth's film."

When you have a franchise that's been around for as long as Godzilla's, it's nice if there are opportunities to honor/pay homage to the earlier entries, even if they don't exist in the same current continuity. For Michael Dougherty, that was doing something as simple as making those back spikes look closer to their original design. It's hard to say how many average moviegoers would notice that the spikes from Godzilla's return to American cinema in 2014 don't perfectly match the ones he has in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, but the fact that Dougherty even thought to make these tweaks shows just how much of a fan of the Godzilla franchise he is, specifically the first movie, as he mentioned earlier in his interview with Tamashii JP (via GORMARU).

The redesigned spikes also aren't the only reference to the original Godzilla movie inserted into Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Back in August 2017, in the middle of principal photography, Michael Dougherty posted a photo of the Oxygen Destroyer, the weapon of mass destruction that was used against the gigantic reptile in 1954. It remains to be seen if King of the Monsters will show its own Oxygen Destroyer being activated, but the fact that Dougherty took the time to photograph this prop suggests we will at least glimpse it.

Read More

Are There Even More Toho Monsters In Legendary's Monsterverse Future?

Originally Posted On CBR

Michael Dougherty, director of the anticipated kaiju monster fest Godzilla: King of the Monsters, is already thinking sequel, and has two kaiju in mind for the "Big Bads."

Dougherty told CinemaToday JP he would like to use Biollante and Gigan in a sequel to Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The GORMARU Twitter account posted an excerpt of Dougherty's answer accompanied by a GIF of the menacing plant creature Biollante.

"I wanted to do it, but if I had the opportunity to do it again, I would have Biollante. Oh, and Gigan!" - Micheal Dougherty states in CinemaToday JP interview regarding #godzillakingofmonsters after saying how GvB made feel stronger in respecting nature. ^_^ #Godzilla pic.twitter.com/qCNdOBWnrr

— GORMARU (@OMEGAGORMARU) January 7, 2019

Dougherty's hands are more than full with Rodan, Mothra and King Ghidorah in King of the Monsters, which is a pleasing enough roster as it is. However, Biollante and Gigan are two more prized and promising fan-favorites diehard fans have been waiting years to see make a comeback on the big screen.

Biollante is perhaps the most famous nemesis of Godzilla to appear in only one movie. Debuting in Godzilla vs. Biollante, a sequel to Godzilla 1984, Biollante is the product of an experiment combining Godzilla's DNA with that of a plant and a scientist's dead daughter. Bigger than the big guy and able to disperse and reform from a cloud of spores, Biollante is one of the few creatures to fight the G-Man to a standstill and leave him reeling from a near-fatal blow.

The verdant kaiju's lone appearance is also famous for its message about man manipulating nature, a major theme in Legendary's Monsterverse, and a moral lesson that had an impact on Dougherty, referenced by GORMAUR. "GvB made [sic] feel stronger in respecting nature."

Gigan's had more screentime, appearing in Godzilla vs. Gigan and Godzilla: Final Wars, and is probably more popular than Biollante since it got to return for another round against Toho's mighty creation. His fearsome blades and hooks made Godzilla bleed in the past, which no one is soon to forget.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters stars Millie Bobby Brown, Vera Farmiga, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, O'Shea Jackson Jr., the returning Ken Watanabe, and Bradley Whitford. Directed, of course, by Michael Dougherty, it is slated to hit theaters May 31.

Godzilla King of the Monsters - Monster Designs Revealed!

From EW

Director Michael Dougherty has teased the designs of the outsized beasts featured in his upcoming film Godzilla: King of the Monsters (out May 31) by posting images of the movie’s tie-in toys on Twitter.

“Playing with my old Godzilla Shogun Warrior and the family camcorder is how I got started,” Dougherty wrote in an accompanying note. “Here’s hoping these SH MonsterArts figures will inspire some kid out there to do the same.”

Godzilla: King of the Monsters is set around five years after the events depicted in 2014’s Godzilla.

“The world is reacting to Godzilla in the same way we would react to any other terrifying incident, in that we are overreacting,” Dougherty told EW earlier this year. “Godzilla hasn’t been seen since that destructive finale, “but there’s paranoia and endless speculation about whether he is the only one out there or whether we’re threatened by others like his kind.”



In the film, Godzilla is joined by the three-headed King Ghidorah, the giant insect Mothra, and another flying monster, Rodan, who in the original Japanese movies could create hurricane-force winds.

“Rodan’s been kind of a sidekick character, but I’ve always had a soft spot for him” says Dougherty. “In a lot of ways he’s more powerful than Godzilla. He’s like this winged A-bomb. I think we’ve done him justice.”

The movie’s human characters include Dr. Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga), a scientist working for the beastie-hunting organization Monarch, and her daughter Madison, who is portrayed by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. The pair is kidnapped by what Dougherty describes as “a mysterious organization, with their own plans for the creatures.”

The director cast Kyle Chandler as Mark Russell, Emma’s ex-husband and Madison’s father, who embarks on a rescue mission in cahoots with two more Monarch members, played by Godzilla veterans Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins.

King Kong And Godzilla Set To Rumble Down Under

From Business News Australia

The Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm. Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor. Both formidable matchups. But Godzilla vs King Kong? Now that's something to put bets down on.

Related: The Monster Times #23 Godzilla King of the Monsters June 1973 Monster Times Publishing Grade NM

Australians are in for a treat now that the producers behind two major film and TV productions are going to be filmed on the Gold Coast, and one is of completely epic proportions.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed this morning that Godzilla vs. Kong and TV series Reef Break have been attracted to the bourgeoning Queensland film sector.

Big both in size and in economic potential, the state's Premier says Godzilla vs. Kong will be the biggest movie to be filmed in Queensland in a while.

"Godzilla vs. Kong is the biggest blockbuster that we have seen for a long time which will be filmed on the Gold Coast," says the Premier.

Starring Stranger Things breakout actress Millie Bobby Brown, Godzilla vs. Kong is expected to be released in 2020.

Filming of the massive monster movie will commence immediately once the currently in production Dora the Explorer movie is completed.

The Premier also said that Disney's ABC Studios International will be filming television series Reef Break, starring Australian actress Poppy Montgomery, in the state's South East.

Both productions are expected to create more than 1,000 jobs for cast, crew, and extras.

The recently introduced location tax offset for international productions is said to be what is attracting these blockbusters to our shores.

"When I met with Legendary Pictures executives about Godzilla vs. Kong in Los Angeles in June, I mentioned our world-class facilities, talent and expertise we have in Queensland and they made specific mention of how the Dora offset deal dealhas provided certainty for production houses," says The Premier.

"Increasing the offset from 16.5 to 30 per cent nationally finally makes Australia world-competitive when it comes to luring international movie-makers to film their blockbusters and there's no better place than in Queensland."

"We want to see a permanent film industry created here with permanent jobs for the thousands of talented local crew and production staff and to keep providing a boost to our economy."

Queensland has been a hotbed of activity over the last few years in terms of spitting out some blockbuster films. In addition to Dora the Exporer, producers have selected Queensland as the place to make hits like Aquaman, Kong: Skull Island, Thor: Ragnarok, and Pacific Rim: Uprising.

Mankind Must Learn How To Coexist With Godzilla And Other Giant Monsters

From Metro

‘Godzilla: King Of The Monsters’ is ‘about how humans coexist' with the battling creatures, explains Ken Watanabe
The Japanese actor provides a brief update on the upcoming blockbuster

Ken Watanabe has tantalizingly teased that Godzilla: King Of The Monsters, the upcoming sequel to the 2014 blockbuster in which he played Dr. Ishiro Serizawa, will revolve around humans coexisting with the monsters.

I recently had the chance to talk to Watanabe about his performance in “Bel Canto.” But towards the end of our discussion I turned the conversation quickly to “Godzilla: King Of The Monsters,” asking Watanabe how the film is different to its predecessor.

“It’s different because in ‘Godzilla: King Of The Monsters,’ the scientists play a central role, so rather than a story about how humans fight with the monsters, it is about how humans can coexist with them.”

Vintage 1983 Bandai Characon Mechagodzilla Remote Control Figure Kaiju Mecha Godzilla

That’s going to be quite an ordeal, though. Because instead of just being the titular Godzilla, the other god-sized monsters that will be wreaking havoc in the film are Mothra, Rodan and the three-headed King Ghidorah.

“King Of The Monsters” will see all of these monstrous behemoths vying for supremacy on the planet, while Watanabe, Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Sally Hawkins, Bradley Whitford, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Zhang Ziyi and Charles Dance will be trying their damnedest for mankind.

Watanabe didn’t stop there with his update, though, giving the ultimate tease that all action film fans will be excited about, as he added, “Also, I think the battle for survival between the monsters is on a larger scale.”

This isn’t the first update that I have received regarding “Godzilla: King Of The Monsters” in recent weeks. Earlier this summer I sat down with Vera Farmiga, who took the time to talk me through her character of Dr. Emma Russell in the film.

“I play a paleobiologist. She has figured out a way to communicate with the creatures and potentially control them using their bioacoustics on a sonar level. So she is like a DJ for the monsters.”

Unfortunately we still have a little time to wait before we see what is actually in store in “Godzilla: King Of The Monsters,” as it won’t be released until May 31, 2019.

Related:

Godzilla vs Kong Turns To Zack Fox For VFX Supervisor

Godzilla Crushes The San Diego Comic Con!

Monster Zero - Titan Containment Site Antarctica "The Wall of Serpents"

Godzilla vs Kong Turns To Zack Fox For VFX Supervisor

From Screen Rant

While Godzilla vs. Kong is still a few years away, the pre-production continues to move forward as the film has recruited the VFX supervisor from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Godzilla vs. Kong will pit the two giant beasts against each other in 2020 to see who is the true king of the monsters.

After the success of Gareth Edward's Godzilla in 2014, it was announced that Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros. Entertainment would be coming together in order to build a shared universe called MonsterVerse. Among the most exciting of these future films was the film simply titled Godzilla vs. Kong, since it would see two legendary and unstoppable monsters battling it out to see who was top monster. The film was announced back in 2015, before fans had the tease of the future monster universe at the end of Kong: Skull Island. With as many monsters that are expected to be in the upcoming film, the visual effects department for Godzilla vs. Kong is going to have a daunting task ahead of them.

GWW reports that Zack Fox has been added on to Godzilla vs. Kong as the visual effects supervisor, though it's possible he's been hired as a VFX coordinator instead, based on an IMDb listing. Fox has previously worked on films like Christopher Robin and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, which both required a huge amount of visual effects to be added in post-production. Fox has been working in the visual effects field since 2004, when he worked as a visual effects production assistant on Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.

Read More

Monster Zero - Titan Containment Site Antarctica "The Wall of Serpents"

Monarch Declassified

CRYPTID PROFILE

From the Hydra to the Rainbow Serpent, myth was the compass that led us to the resting place of the three-headed Titan. A name, unspoken through millennia of whispered nightmares. A living extinction event, named “the one who is many”. We call it Monster Zero.

At a Monarch containment facility deep in the frozen tundra of Antarctica, a three-headed winged serpent of ancient yet unknown origin lies frozen within a glacial tomb of ice. This is without question the largest superspecies ever discovered, easily dwarfing Godzilla at a height of over five-hundred feet tall.

Cranial scans reveal a divergent frontal lobe density in the brains of the three heads, denoting each head has disparate levels of cognitive functions, and possibly even independent thought.

SUPERSPECIES PROFILE

Monarch Designation: Monster Zero

Classification: UNKNOWN

Nature: Bio-Electrical

Body Height: 521ft

Wingspan: UNKNOWN

Range: UNKNOWN

Related:

Titanus Rodan

Titanus Mosura

Titanus Rodan - Titan Containment Site Isla De Mona, Mexico "El Nido Del Demonio"

Monarch Declassified

Within a Monarch containment facility atop the active Isla de Mona volcano, a mysterious Titan lies in pyrostasis within the restless magma. The legends speak of it as the “Fire Demon” or “The One Born of Fire”, but a simpler name echoes through the ancient temples of volcanically active regions: “Rodan”.

Data Update:

A volcanic internal combustion system of magma flows throughout a body covered in rock-like scales that act as geothermal armor. While much larger in size, Rodan has a skeletal structure similar to that of a Pteranodon - one of the earliest vertebrates known to have developed the power of flight. Just as Kong is king of the primates, Rodan may have once been king of the skies.

Because of the extreme temperatures within this particular containment facility, current lab equipment can’t function properly. As a result, thermal heat signatures on the creature are impossible to collect, and Monarch detection crews conducted cardiograms via aerial satellite for life sign detection and verification. Much like the volcano that incubates it, Rodan is alive but dormant.

SUPERSPECIES PROFILE

Monarch Designation: Rodan

Classification: Titanus Rodan

Nature: Bio-Volcanic

Body Height: 154ft

Wingspan: 871ft

Behavior: Destroyer

Range: Worldwide

Related Data:

Titanus Mosura

Godzilla News: Is Vera Farmiga The Woman Who Controls The Monsters?

Vera Farmiga has opened up about her role in the upcoming "Godzilla: King of Monsters" revealing that her character may have a way to control the monsters in the film.

“I play a paleobiologist. She has figured out a way to communicate with the creatures and potentially control them using their bioacoustics on a sonar level. So she is like a DJ for the monsters.”

She also spoke about director Michael Dougherty and how he is in many ways a perfectionist wanting several takes to get a scene right.

I don’t mind it. Except for when there is cork being thrown at you and wind machines blowing down your ear and up your nostrils. I don’t mind it. I like to have as many takes. Of course, it depends on the film and the emotional output of the scene. It depends on a lot. But I am not really ready to talk about the film quite yet, because I have such a one track mind.”

The actress also expressed that in her opinion Godzilla was more than just the savior of mankind in the film believing that the monster was a champion for the environment as well.

“And ‘Godzilla’ to me isn’t a film about monsters. It is a film about saving the environment. When it comes down to it that’s what emerged to me off the written page, and so I find that there has to be a little parable in it that makes me interested.”

Though this little tidbit may get under the skin of some monster fans it should be noted that Godzilla movies have often taken on both political and environmental issues, most notably in the original "Gojira", "Godzilla vs The Smog Monster" and "Godzilla Vs Biollante".


Related: Godzilla: King of the Monsters has been screened and the fans are going crazy!

Godzilla:King of Monsters - Mothra May Steal The Show

Godzilla 2: First Set Photos ... More Monsters?

Legendary Pictures Set To Produce A Live Action Gundam Movie!

Holy Smokes! This could be really cool if it's more Godzilla (2014) than Pacific Rim (2018). Is there any chance that they could produce a Macross movie?

From Legendary Pictures:

Multi-platform Animated Juggernaut to be Translated into

Live-Action Film for the First Time

Legendary and Sunrise announced today at Anime Expo 2018, plans to co-produce the first-ever live-action feature film version of GUNDAM, based on Sunrise’s massively popular Mecha anime and science fiction media franchise. The billion dollar property was created in 1979 and has spawned a multi-platform universe encompassing televised anime, manga, animated films, video games, plastic models, toys, and novels among other media. Gundam continues to dominate master toy licensee Bandai Namco’s earnings almost forty years after its inception.

The original Gundam series is set in the Universal Century, an era in which humanity’s growing population has led people to emigrate to space colonies. Eventually, the people living in the colonies seek their autonomy, and launch a war of independence against the people living on Earth. Through the tragedies and discord arising from this human conflict, not only the maturation of the main character, but also the intentions of enemies and the surrounding people are sensitively depicted. The battles in the story, in which the characters pilot robots known as mobile suits, are wildly popular.

The story for the live-action version of Gundam is being kept under wraps.

The project will be overseen by Cale Boyter on behalf of Legendary with the Sunrise creative team.

Legendary currently has three films in various phases of production including SKYSCRAPER, coming to theaters on July 13; and both GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, and the live-action, DETECTIVE PIKACHU films both in post-production, with GODZILLA VS. KONG in prep.

Related:

Vintage Bandai Gundam L.O. Booster Kit 1/144 Scale model **MIB*

Godzilla: King of the Monsters has been screened and the fans are going crazy!

This is great news! I really really really want this movie to be one of the best monster movies of all-time.

From Cosmic Book News

Last night saw Warner Bros. test screen a secret film, which turned out to be Godzilla 2 (not Aquaman).

Following the report from back in March which said Godzilla: King of Monsters was really great, now someone who went to the Godzilla 2 test screening says it's awesome.

A Redditor saw Godzilla 2 and said fans won't be disappointed and that it has awesome scenes.

"You won't be disappointed," user aemon123 said offering that fans will be "far more" satisfied with the monster action this time around.

The Reddit user didn't want to spoil things in the movie related to the final battle involving Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan and King Ghidorah, as well as if there is any Godzilla vs. King Kong set-up, but noted there are plot tie-ins with Kong: Skull Island.

The person also claimed "there are some awesome moments" when questioned about crowd-pleasing scenes in the flick.

As Godzilla 2 features a lot of monsters, how are the fight scenes?

"All the fight scenes were previs and yet, they were still spectacular. I imagine the final quality will be even better," it was said.

Likewise, the characters in the film are said to be definitely "more interesting" and that "it will probably be the best Godzilla film, tbh."

The Godzilla 2 test screening was also said to be filled with "nothing but great reactions."

The Reddit user echoes sentiments from back in March, which mentioned Mothra, Kong: Skull Island, Millie Bobby Brown and more.

"Acting and cinematography are really nice and even though the effects were not finished and some not even half-finished it looked really great," said a test screener. "I think you are going to like how much of the other creatures you are going to see in this movie [especially Godzilla]. For what I saw I'm very pleased and can honestly say it will probably be the most original from this universe and loved every single casting."

Godzilla: King of the Monsters has a May 31 2019 release directed by Michael Dougherty starring Vera Farmiga, Charles Dance, KyleChandler, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Sally Hawkins, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Ziyi Zhang, Ken Watanabe and Millie Bobby Brown.

The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species — thought to be mere myths — rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.”

Let's get ready to rumble!

Detective Pikachu: Yep A Live-Action Pokemon Movie Is Coming

This morning, Legendary Pictures has announced the start of filming along with a confirmation on the rest of the cast, which includes the incredible Ken Watanabe:

Starring Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool series), Ken Watanabe (Godzilla), Justice Smith (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) and Kathryn Newton (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), the film is from director Rob Letterman (Goosebumps, Gulliver’s Travels) and writers Nicole Perlman and Letterman—with Eric Pearson and Tom McCarthy having completed the production polishes. Detective Pikachu arrives in theaters in North America on May 10, 2019.

Pokémon has delighted fans of all ages around the world for over two decades. With more than 300 million video games sold worldwide, 23.6 billion Pokémon TCG cards shipped to 74 countries, and an animated series spanning 20 seasons, Pokémon is one of the most successful entertainment properties in the world.

Mary Parent and Cale Boyter produce Detective Pikachu for Legendary Entertainment, while Joe Caracciolo, Jr. (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Logan) and The Pokémon Company’s Tsunekazu Ishihara serve as its executive producers. Legendary’s Alexandra Mendes co-produces.

The talented creative team includes director of photography John Mathieson (Logan, Gladiator), production designer Nigel Phelps (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Transformers: Dark of the Moon), editor Mark Sanger (Gravity, The Jungle Book), costume designer Suzie Harman (RocknRolla, The Death of Stalin). The film’s visual effects will be crafted by Moving Picture Company (The Jungle Book, Wonder Woman) and Framestore (Paddington 2, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2).

King Kong On Move To Warner Bros, Presaging Godzilla Monster Matchup

From Yahoo! Movies

Written By: Mike Fleming Jr

In a movie move that portends a clash of giant monsters, Legendary Pictures’ Thomas Tull is moving his untitled Skull Island King Kong film to Warner Bros. This is being done to unite the property with Legendary’s other giant franchise, Godzilla. In what would be a pretty epic pairing, the Godzilla sequel that is in the works will be followed by a movie that pits the giant ape versus the giant fire breathing reptile. I’m told this is happening very quickly with moves going all the way to Japan, where Godzilla rights holder Toho is based. Legendary, which moved from Warner Bros to Universal, had developed the Skull Island film at the latter studio. It is unclear at the moment what Universal’s position will be, but I heard the studio move is being done because it is just easier to have all the pieces under one roof, something that Marvel Studios has done with superheroes like The Hulk. King Kong is in the public domain, while Legendary got the Godzilla rights from Toho.

See Also: Monster Zero - Godzilla, Rodan, King Ghidorah - Retro Style Lobby Card Print

The Kong: Skull Island film is casting quickly. Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston and Corey Hawkins are set and last I wrote about it, Samuel L. Jackson was in line to star, with Tom Wilkinson also offered a big role and John C. Reilly atop the list for another main role. Jordan Vogt-Roberts is directing a script by John Gatins and Max Borenstein, and they are eyeing a production start of late year or early 2016. Universal had been set to release the film March 10, 2017, with a Imax 3D a big part of the release plan. Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni produce with Mary Parent, with Alex Garcia and Eric McLeod exec producing. I’ll let you know how this one sorts itself, but I hear it’s happening.

SoftBank Corp. Invests $250 Million In Legendary Entertainment

by Armand Vaquer

Legendary Entertainment looks like a good investment since they have a number of hit movies under their belts in recent years. So good an investment that SoftBank Corp. is making a major investment into the production company.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

SoftBank Corp. is making its first investment in a Hollywood studio as the Japanese technology giant seeks to bring more content to its mobile and digital networks. 

The cash-flush company said Thursday that it will invest $250 million in Legendary Entertainment, the Burbank production house and financier behind recent movies including "Godzilla" and "300: Rise of an Empire." 

SoftBank owns major stakes in industries including Internet and e-commerce, and it has been looking around Hollywood for a studio play.

To read more, go here. 

Godzilla 2 Monsters: 'Skull Island' Writer Penning Script For Sequel, A Possible King Kong Vs Godzilla Crossover?

From Franchise Herald

Max Borenstein is returning to writing duties for "Gozdilla 2". He'll also be writing the script for the forthcoming King Kong movie "Skull Island", leaving fans to speculate if the King Kong versus King Kaiju movie is a possibilty.

Previously reported..

Godzilla 2 might well be on its way in production following Godzilla's success, who has passed $500 million at the worldwide box office.

But fans of the King Daikaiju are worried that the sequel may be delayed from its original plan after director Gareth Edwards announced his new spin off Star Wars that is due out in December 16, 2016.

"Ever since I saw Star Wars I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life - join the Rebel Alliance! I could not be more excited and honored to go on this mission with Lucasfilm," Edwards said in a statement.

A legendary picture CEO Thomas Tull is however confident that Edwards' new film will not interfere with Godzilla 2.

"Gareth's filmmaking talent makes him one of his generation's most creative and visionary directors. The plan has always been for Gareth to direct a different film before we started on another Godzilla, but who knew it would be a Star Wars installment? We have a great plan in store for Godzilla fans and I am looking forward to seeing Gareth's imprint on the Star Wars universe."

Warner Bros. at San Diego's Comic Con announced that Gozdilla 2 was absolutely happening and will get on the sequel as soon as he finishes his Star Wars spin off.

Legendary Pictures and Universal also confirmed a King Kong prequel called Skull Island for November 4, 2016. Skull Island is rumored to feature a showdown between King Kong and Godzilla.

Additionally, the second installment has been confirmed recently at Comic Con where a short clip was presented showing three additional monsters to join the sequel. All three have appeared in previous Toho Co., Ltd. Films, largely responsible for Godzilla released in Japan.

READ MORE

MORE CINEMA NEWS

Promise Broken: "Godzilla" Blu-ray Is Sans Akira Takarada

by Armand Vaquer

Godzilla is now out in home video. But, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. reneged on their promise to include Akira Takarada's cut scene from the Blu-ray edition of Godzilla.

Frankly, I don't find this surprising, but fans were told when word came out about Takarada's scene being cut that the scene would be included in the Blu-ray edition. Well, it's not there! (I have not purchased it yet, so I am relying on reliable sources.)

Above, the cut scene featuring Akira Takarada. Photo: Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros.

One fan wrote in Facebook:

Nearly Everyone involved promised Takarada-san's scene would be on the Blu-Ray. I have seen it in writing and I have it in writing myself. So I am waiting. Picture quality is not the issue for me. No Takarada scene is a deal breaker for me. I hope for a directors/extended cut later. Who knows. It will not be the first time the studio was somewhat less than respectful to the fans.

The Blu-ray and DVD discs of Godzilla has been met with mixed reviews. Some say the movie plays too dark and has noise, while others say it plays just fine. I suppose it depends upon the player and television monitor one is using.

It is my understanding that there's a special edition of the Blu-ray at Target department stores featuring a 30-minute featurette titled, "Rebirth of an Icon." In order to get it, one must buy the disc with the view of Godzilla's backside (or spines) on the box art (I've read).

Still, is it disappointing that Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. broke their word pertaining to Akira Takarada's scene.

Metropolis Magazine's "Godzilla Issue"

Above, the cover.

By Armand Vaquer


Metropolis magazine's "Godzilla issue" is now out on the stands throughout Tokyo and other parts of Japan. Legendary Pictures/ Warner Bros. Godzilla is opening tomorrow in theaters in Japan. Godzilla's parent company, Toho Co., Ltd. is distributing.

Fortunately, you don't have to fly to Japan to see it. It is available on the official website of Metropolis in .pdf.

To save you time from digging around, here's the link to the .pdf.

Metropolis is a free magazine and is available throughout Tokyo, Japan. I have seen it at convenience stores, train & subway stations, restaurants and even at Narita International Airport.

My portion of the issue: