Zhang Ziyi Joins Legendary's 'MonsterVerse' Franchise, Stars in Godzilla Sequel

Entertainment news website Variety reported on Thursday that actress Zhang Ziyi (Memoirs of a Geisha, Hero, The Grandmaster) is joining Legendary's "MonsterVerse" franchise, beginning with Godzilla: King of Monsters, the sequel film to Legendary Pictures' 2014 Godzilla movie. According to Variety, Ziyi's character "is a significant figure within the covert Monarch organization established in that film."

Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air, The Conjuring, Bates Motel), and Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) will star in the Godzilla: King of Monsters film as a father, mother, and daughter.

Other new cast members include:

• O'Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Outta Compton)
• Aisha Hinds (Underground, Shots Fired, Under the Dome)
• Anthony Ramos (White Girl, Hamilton musical)
• Charles Dance (Game of Thrones)
• Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley)

Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Letters from Iwo Jima, Inception) and Sally Hawkins (Paddington, Blue Jasmine) are returning from the 2014 film.

Michael Dougherty (Krampus) is directing the sequel, after co-writing the script with his Krampus writing partner Zach Shields. Dougherty previously led the writing room collaborators who brainstormed how to unite the current Godzilla and King Kong projects under Legendary's "MonsterVerse" franchise. Alex Garcia is producing the project for Legendary.

Godzilla: King of Monsters was previously known as Godzilla 2 before Legendary announced the film's new title in December. The film is slated for March 22, 2019. The planned Godzilla vs. Kong crossover film from director Adam Wingard is slated for May 22, 2020.