After their first bout in 1962's King Kong vs. Godzilla, the iconic kaiju meet again in Legendary Pictures' Godzilla vs. Kong. However, as is the case with much of the MonsterVerse, it appears that Kong and Godzilla's upcoming showdown is the continuation of an ancient conflict among the Titans. "The myths are real," Rebecca Hall's character, Ilene Andrews, proclaims in the newly released first trailer. "There was a war, and they're the last ones standing."

There are snippets in the trailer that may offer a glimpse of this prehistoric war, with Kong fending off twin winged kaiju, known as Warbats. However, it's unclear whether this is Kong himself, fighting in the present, or one of his ancestors in the far-flung past. What can we piece together about the millennia-spanning lore of the MonsterVerse?

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Godzilla & Kong's War Might Be Tied to the Hollow Earth

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

To understand the ancient Titan war alluded to in the Godzilla vs. Kong trailer, one needs to return to the previous MonsteVerse release, 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The film focuses on yet another war for the title, this time, between Godzilla and Ghidorah, who arrived on Earth from another time. Ghidorah's massive power compelled all the Titans to obey his will; in the end, only Godzilla could subdue him.

However, as we learn in the end credits, similar lore existed that centers upon Godzilla and Kong. The sequence depicts multiple newspaper clippings, showing how the world changed in the aftermath of Godzilla's fight with Ghidorah, with the appearance of a new Mothra egg, the revitalization of animal and plant life, and speculation that the Hollow Earth had once been occupied by people who worshiped the Titans.

The Hollow Earth was introduced as part of the backstory to 2017's Kong: Skull Island. The Skullcrawlers who reside beneath come into conflict with Kong's race, who protects the island itself. However, also in the Hollow Earth is the underground palace where Godzilla returns after being broken by the Oxygen Destroyer in Godzilla: King of the Monsters. This society appeared to worship Godzilla and the other Titans, fearing King Ghidorah as a Devil. When Monarch investigates the Hollow Earth ruins in Skull Island, they find several murals depicting Godzilla and Kong fighting, indicating that this rivalry between Godzilla and Kong's race existed for millennia.

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Skull Island vs the Hollow Earth, and King Kong vs. Godzilla

Kong: Skull Island

As we learn in the clippings, many Titans start converging on Skull Island in King of the Monsters. Skull Island is unique in that it is directly connected to the Hollow Earth tunnels as well as a place where life proliferates in uncanny manners. Kong protects Skull Island from the Skullcrawlers under the Earth, indicating that Skull Island is at constant war with entities from beneath the Earth.

It is possible that this battle is an extension of the battle between Kong and Godzilla, that Skull Island is in conflict with the Hollow Earth's Titans. It is also possible that Kong and his species refuse to bend a knee to Godzilla, resulting in a rivalry that dates back to ancient times. This rebellion is less a matter of domination like that of Ghidorah and Godzilla, and more a matter of independence from the Titans' monopoly over the world.

It is telling that Skull Island's society is still alive whereas the Hollow Earth society has long since past, indicating that the Hollow Earth culture might've been decimated in this Ancient Titan War between Godzilla and Kong.

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Skull Island May Be the Origin Spot of the Titans

kong-skull-island-larson-hiddleston

Once again, it is indicated in the end credits of Godzilla: King of the Monsters that Skull Island might be the origin point of all the Titans, in the way that Infant Island often is in the Toho movies. This would, after all, make sense given how life is so unorthodox on Skull Island as opposed to the rest of the world, and how the people living on Skull Island seem in-tune with nature.

If this is the case, then Kong, as we see in Kong: Skull Island, is the King of Skull Island, the leader of the origin point of all the Titans, is protecting it from other Titans who dare try to dominate it. This also would mean that, in this ancient Titan War, Kong's race beat out Godzilla's Titans, resulting in the whole Titan race going into hibernation while Kong's race survived above ground, defending it until only one Kong remained. The Skullcrawlers, therefore, might be lesser-Titans on Godzilla's side.

If this is true, then this might mean that Godzilla is taking one last assault on Kong at the end of his rival species' line, in order to take the one scrap of land that does not bow to his authority. After all, much as it was back then, all the Titans have awoken, meaning Godzilla's legions are at full force. While it is possible some outside force is manipulating Godzilla into battling Kong, it's just as likely that this movie will see the possible conclusion to Godzilla's war with Kong over the dominance of Skull Island.

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