Los Angeles, California – Director Adam Wingard will be stepping away from the MonsterVerse franchise after directing the last two successful films, “Godzilla vs Kong” and “Godzilla x Kong: New Empire.” Sources have reported that Wingard will not be returning for a third installment, citing amicable parting due to timing issues. However, insiders suggest that the door remains open for a potential return in the future.
Wingard’s most recent film, “Godzilla x Kong: New Empire,” has been a box office hit, grossing over $564 million worldwide since its release. Despite expressing interest in continuing the monster saga, Wingard revealed a new original project titled “Onslaught,” which was acquired by A24 in a competitive sale. As Wingard prioritized this new action thriller over another monster movie, Legendary decided to move on to the next installment without him.
Legendary has brought on writer Dave Callaham to begin penning a new script for the MonsterVerse franchise, signaling a fresh start for their next monster film. It remains unclear whether future films will explore concepts introduced by Wingard, such as the Hollow Earth theory or characters like the adventurous vet played by Dan Stevens.
As Wingard exits the franchise, he leaves on a high note, with “Godzilla x Kong” poised to become the highest-grossing film in the MonsterVerse series. Amidst the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, Wingard’s initial entry, “Godzilla vs Kong,” still managed to gross over $100 million domestically and $470 million worldwide, contributing to the resurgence of cinema during difficult times.
Although Wingard’s departure marks the end of an era within the MonsterVerse franchise, fans can anticipate new creative directions and storytelling in future installments. The legacy of Wingard’s contributions to the MonsterVerse will continue to resonate as the franchise evolves under new creative leadership.