Godzilla’s back as Apple TV+ has premiered the teaser trailer for its new big-budget kaiju series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” which has also set a debut date for November 17th.
The series unfolds within the continuity of Legendary’s MonsterVerse franchise (ie. “Godzilla vs. Kong,” “Kong: Skull Island,” etc.). More specifically this takes place after the events of 2014’s “Godzilla” which saw San Francisco levelled by the beast’s fight with MUTO.
The story follows two siblings following in their missing 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 an army officer named Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell). Flashback showcases events in the 1950s when a young Lee (Wyatt Russell) was part of a Monarch team trying to learn the origins of the Titans.
In the present day, Monarch is threatened by what present-day Shaw knows. Anna Sawai and Ren Watabe play the siblings, Kiersey Clemons plays an American hacker in Japan, whilst Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, Mari Yamamoto, and Elisa Lasowski also star. The trailer also confirms John Goodman will reprise his “Kong: Skull Island” role.
The first episode is directed by WandaVision’s Matt Shakman from a script by Chris Black with the latter serving as showrunner. Matt Fraction, Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell, Brad Van Arragon, Hiro Matsuoka, Andrew Colville, Takemasa Arita, and Andy Goddard executive produce.
The series premieres ahead of Toho’s “Godzilla: Minus One” film which arrives on U.S. screens (including IMAX) on December 1st, and the next Monsterverse-set film “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” which hits on April 12th next year.
