TheGodzillacinematic universe keeps getting bigger and bigger. While this year will see the release ofKong: Skull Island, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. have tapped a director to helmGodzilla 2in the form ofMichael Dougherty.
Dougherty, who is already on board as a writer for the sequel with hisKrampuspartner Zach Shields and Max Borenstein, previously directedTrick ‘r Treat.ScreenCrushfirst reported the news that Dougherty was in talks to direct back in October, althoughVarietyclaim’s the deal wasn’t extended until December. The former trade confirmed Dougherty in the director’s chair today.
The firstGodzillastarredAaron Taylor-Johnson, reuniting with hisAvengers: Age of Ultronco-starElizabeth Olsen, andBryan Cranstonin a story about the rise of the titular monster to defend humanity against gargantuan creatures, dubbed MUTOs. The world will be expanded whenKong: Skull Island, set years before the events ofGodzillaat the end of the Vietnam War, hits theaters on March 10th.
Godzilla 2, formally titledGodzilla: King of Monsters, is scheduled for release after that on June 16, 2025 before the beasts from both worlds collide inGodzilla vs. Kongon June 24, 2025.
Much like Edwards, Dougherty didn’t direct many feature films before getting theGodzillajob. Though, his previous features, as well as the upcomingTrick ‘r Treat 2that he’s also directing, are under the Legendary Pictures banner.
Plot details forGodzilla 2are unknown, but the studio’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con in 2014 announcing the sequelteased“more monsters to play with.” So perhaps we’ll be seeing some classic adversaries brought to life, like Mothra, Ghidora, and Rodan. Given the prequel nature ofSkull Island, it’s hard to see characters crossing over just yet.
