Variety: Legendary Hires Godzilla 2 Writers, Plans Godzilla-King Kong Universe

Entertainment news magazine Variety reported on Thursday that scriptwriters Michael Dougherty and Zach Shields (Krampus) are penning a script for Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros.' sequel film for the 2014 Godzilla movie.

Variety also reported that Legendary Pictures is supporting the production of a planned Godzilla vs. Kong crossover film by possibly setting up a writers room for the film's production. Legendary Pictures moved the production of the Kong: Skull Island prequel movie film project it was producing alongside Universal Studios to Warner Bros. in September 2015 to allow for the possibility of the Godzilla vs. Kong crossover. Warner Bros. is planning to develop a new "ecosystem" of both new and classic giant super-species.

Director Gareth Edwards, who directed the 2014 Godzilla film, left the Godzilla 2 project in May. News source Deadline described the split as "amicable." At that time, the production was working off of a script by the previous film's Max Borenstein.

Godzilla 2 is currently slated for March 22, 2019, while Godzilla vs. Kong is slated for May 29, 2020.

Legendary licensed the Godzilla film rights, and produced Gareth Edwards' 2014 Godzilla film. The 2014 film opened in the United States in May 2014, and earned over US$500 million worldwide.

Chinese company Dalian Wanda Group acquired a majority stake in Legendary Entertainment in January.​