The MonsterVerse is a strange beast. Over a decade ago, Legendary Pictures and Toho shook hands on a deal that promised a new cinematic sandbox for Godzilla and his kaiju kin. It's a universe that started with a somber, grounded-ish Godzilla in 2014 and has since spiraled into a world of hollow earth theories, glowing axes, and giant apes with a serious attitude problem. The latest chapter, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, defied all expectations and became the highest-grossing film in the franchise, raking in a whopping $571.9 million worldwide, nudging past Kong: Skull Island's $568 million haul. Now, we're headed back for a third mash-up: Godzilla x Kong: Supernova.
And who's along for the ride? Matthew Modine, a guy who has seen it all, from the psychological horrors of Vietnam in Full Metal Jacket to the supernatural small-town dread of Stranger Things. You'd think a career like that would make him immune to Hollywood's quirks, but apparently, the man has one simple, earnest desire: to meet a giant, radioactive lizard.
Speaking with Collider, Modine confessed that his motivation for joining the new film was exactly that. “I did the movie because I wanted to meet Godzilla.” The reality, as he found, was a bit different. As any actor who's ever had to emote at a tennis ball knows, the monsters are never really there. Modine noted, “I was like, wait a minute, Godzilla is not here! I'm looking at Godzilla and King Kong as if they're there.” It's a classic bit of actor's anecdotage, a reminder that the spectacle we see on screen is built on a foundation of professional imagination.
The new film, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, is currently in production and is set for a theatrical release on March 26, 2027. It's being helmed by Grant Sputore, a director with a single, impressive feature under his belt: the Hilary Swank-led sci-fi thriller I Am Mother. The screenplay comes from Dave Callaham, the writer behind Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
While plot details are still scarce, we know the film is described as a continuation of the franchise, introducing new human characters alongside the returning Titans. The cast is shaping up to be a strong one, with Modine joining Kaitlyn Dever (The Last of Us), Jack O'Connell (Unbroken), Delroy Lindo (Get Shorty), and Alycia Debnam-Carey (Fear the Walking Dead). We also have the welcome return of Dan Stevens as Trapper, the quirky Titan veterinarian we met in The New Empire.
It's interesting, this push to build out the human side of the MonsterVerse. Godzilla (2014) and Kong: Skull Island felt like they genuinely wanted to explore human stories within a monster-filled world. Then the scales tipped toward pure monster spectacle. Supernova seems to be trying to find a balance again. Let's hope they give these new actors more to do than just stand around pointing at the sky.
So, Modine got his wish, in a manner of speaking. He got to pretend to meet Godzilla. And we, the audience, get to wait to see if this next chapter can live up to its predecessor's surprising success. Are you as excited as Matthew Modine to see what's next for the MonsterVerse? Drop a comment below and let us know what you think.
