The first major casting news emerged today for Godzilla vs. Kong 2 as Dan Stevens has been confirmed for a major role in the sequel.
Per Deadline, Dan Stevens will star in the upcoming next installment of Legendary’s Monsterverse film franchise, following up on the well-received Godzilla vs. Kong. After helming the first film, Adam Wingard is returning to the director's seat for the sequel. Production is slated to begin later this year in Australia, the same location as the first film and 2017's Kong: Skull Island.
Details are still under wraps, though Wingard previously stated his interest in exploring the Hollow Earth. "The clear starting point we teed up, exploring Hollow Earth, I think there is a lot more to do there. This is a pre-history of Planet Earth, where all the [Titans] come from," he added. "We tee up some mystery in [Godzilla vs. Kong], things I want to see resolved and explored and pushed to the next level. If I have the opportunity, I know what I will do. It’s up to Warner Bros and Legendary, if they have an appetite." Other rumors indicate the sequel may center on Kong's son, as the movie will reportedly film under the title Son of Kong.
Stevens previously worked with Wingard in The Guest, an action horror thriller that earned both actor and director rave reviews from critics and fans alike. Although he initially gained fame in hit British drama Downtown Abbey, Stevens gained notoriety for his standout performance as David Haller in the hit sci-fi drama series Legion. Aside from Godzilla vs. Kong 2, Stevens is set to appear in Hulu's biographical miniseries Immigrant about Chippendales founder Somen "Steve" Banerjee, with Kumail Nanjiani in the lead role.
Legendary’s Monsterverse has more than the sequel in the works. Godzilla vs. Kong writer Max Borenstein teased that there are plans for more Monsterverse films. The Monsterverse will also branch out to the small screen as Apple TV confirmed it picked up the untilted live-action series following on from the events of 2014's Godzilla and the aftermath of San Fransisco's destruction.
On top of that, Netflix announced a new anime based on the 2017 King Kong film. Simply titled Skull Island, the description for the anime reads, "A shipwrecked crew, an island of monsters, and one king to rule them all. Skull Island is a new anime series set in @Legendary’s Monsterverse from @powerhouseanim."
Neither Godzilla vs. Kong 2, Skull Island or the untilted Apple TV series have expected release dates.
Source: Deadline