Image: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures — hi-res version to download here.
Screen Queensland has announced that Legendary Pictures is back on the Gold Coast, Australia with production underway on the latest epic film in the ever-popular ‘Monsterverse’.
Hot on the heels of the record-breaking box office smash Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and season two of Legendary Television’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,which wrapped earlier in the year, this new theatrical feature will be based out of Village Roadshow Studios, previously home to three films in the franchise.
Secured for the state through Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy, the film from Australian director Grant Sputore (I Am Mother) stars Dan Stevens (reprising his role as Trapper), Kaitlyn Dever (The Last of Us, Apple Cider Vinegar), Jack O’Connell (Sinners, 28 Years Later), Alycia Debnam-Carey (Apple Cider Vinegar, Fear the Walking Dead), Sam Neill (Apples Never Fall, Jurassic Park), Matthew Modine (Oppenheimer, Stranger Things), and Delroy Lindo (Sinners, The Good Fight). Dave Callaham (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Michael Lloyd Green (I Am Mother) wrote the draft.
The next entry will feature several new human characters alongside the beloved and iconic Titans, Godzilla and Kong, as they face off against a cataclysmic world-ending threat.
Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the Crisafulli Government recognised the importance of strong partnerships with industry heavyweights such as Legendary Pictures.
“Queensland has built an international reputation as a production paradise, which is solidified by the number of blockbuster films currently using our great state as a big screen backdrop,” Minister Langbroek said.
“During filming, Legendary Pictures will employ more than 400 cast and crew and contribute an estimated $93 million to the local economy.
“These productions provide our highly sought-after crews with a steady pipeline of projects and create opportunities for the next generation to hone their skills.”
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney said that the enduring relationship with Legendary Pictures was testament to the state’s first-class studios and facilities, proximity to versatile locations, renowned crews and competitive incentives from all levels of government.
“The trust that Legendary places in Queensland as the preferred place to bring their ‘Monsterverse’ to life is something we don’t take lightly, and we are always pleased to welcome the team back to the sunshine state.”
Legendary’s Alex Garcia expressed their excitement to return to the Gold Coast.
“We’re glad to extend our collaboration with Queensland as we bring to life a new instalment in this epic franchise. The state’s world-class production infrastructure and exceptional workforce have been critical to the global success of the Monsterverse film franchise, and we look forward to building on that momentum together.”
Behind the camera, Sputore is collaborating with director of photography Dan Mindel (Twisters, Star Wars: Episode IX), production designer Stefan Dechant (Kong: Skull Island, The Tragedy of Macbeth), editor Josh Schaeffer (Godzilla x Kong, Molly’s Game), VFX supervisor Kelly Port (Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home), composer Henry Jackman (Kong: Skull Island, Extraction), costume designer Ann Foley (The Last of Us, Godzilla vs. Kong), makeup artist Sabrina Wilson (Godzilla x Kong), and hairstylist Jules Holdren (Top Gun: Maverick). The film is supported by the Australian Government through the Location Offset, the Queensland Government through the Production Attraction Strategy, and the City of Gold Coast.
Legendary’s Monsterverse, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, is an expansive cross-platform story universe based around humanity’s battle to survive in a world facing a catastrophic new reality—the monsters of our myths and legends are real.
Titles made in Queensland include Kong: Skull Island (2017), Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024), the highest-grossing instalment of the franchise to date and the highest-grossing Godzilla film of all time. Including 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the Monsterverse has accumulated over $2.5 billion at the global box office and expanded into the highly successful event series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters for Apple TV+. Including an interconnected world of video games, graphic novels, toys and live experiences, it represents epic entertainment on the largest possible scale.
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Media contact
Carrie Barber
Marketing and Communications Manager
media@screenqld.com.au | 07 3248 0500
