Warner Bros. has decided to move up the release of Godzilla vs. Kong, with the film now slated to arrive in theaters and on HBO Max in March.
The Monsterverse movie has shifted from its previous release date of May 21, and will now debut on March 26. This shift in release date comes after distributor Warner Bros. came to an accord with Legendary Pictures, the production company behind Godzilla vs. Kong. Legendary had taken umbrage with Warner Bros' plan to simultaneously release its 2021 slate of films in theaters and on the HBO Max streaming service, even threatening legal action. The two companies have reportedly come to an agreement on a release strategy.
Godzilla vs. Kong was originally slated to debut last December, but had its release pushed to 2021 in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Netflix originally sought to purchase the film for $250 million, until Warner Bros. blocked the motion. Legendary is hoping that the film, which carries a $160 million price tag, will do well in international territories, where it owns the rights. China and Japan are being looked at as favored markets, as monster movies tend to perform fairly well in those countries.
Godzilla vs. Kong pits the King of the Monsters against the Scion of Skull Island, acting as a direct sequel to Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Plot details remain scarce, but the film will take place on Kong's home of Skull Island and introduce several new Kaiju into the fray.
Directed by Adam Wingard and written by Eric Pearson and Max Borenstein, Godzilla vs. Kong stars Alexander Skarsgard, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall and Brian Tyree Henry. The film arrives in theaters and on HBO Max March 26.
Source: Variety