King Kong May Move To Warner Bros.

King Kong May Move To Warner Bros.
Godzilla's spoiling for a fight

11 September 2015 | Written by James White | Source: The Hollywood Reporter



While it seemed that King Kong’s new home – outside of Skull Island, that is – would be Universal thanks to the company’s deal with Legendary, it would appear that the latter studios’ executives want to keep the dream of a Kong Vs. Godzilla film alive and are now in talks with Warner Bros. to move the creature there.

It’s apparently feasible since Universal had no financial stake in the new giant gorilla film, Kong: Skull Island, only agreeing to distribute. Though we could see the studio concerned about losing a potential tentpole, Legendary has the right to take the beast anywhere it wants. And the idea of Kong going up against Toho’s finest is too tempting to resist.

The Hollywood Reporter’s sources say it’s still just at the talks stage, but if a deal is hammered out,Kong: Skull Island will move to Warners for distribution and a potential clash between the two monsters will be worked up once Godzilla’s sequel has arrived, assuming it isn't retro-fitted into the match-up, Batman V Superman-style. The follow-up to Gareth Edwards’ 2014 creature feature is in development with writer Max Borenstein on script duty and Edwards looking to return once he’s finished working on Star Wars stand-alone Rogue One, targeting a 2018 release for ol’ atomic breath’s next outing.

And yes, of course the phase de jour, “shared universe” is being bandied about, with Warners no doubt hoping to capture the excitement for a cinematic showdown not seen since 1962’s King Kong Vs. Godzilla.

Kong: Skull Island, meanwhile, is close to starting shooting with Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins and Toby Kebbell starring and Jordan Vogt-Roberts directing from a script currently by Jurassic World’s Derek Connolly.

 

But seriously. Let's do an amazing film with King Kong, Godzilla and Jaegers. Throwing a Pacific Rim crossover into the mix would be great.