Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

[Chaotic]

After opening to $103M internationally — the biggest opening of 2014 so far — and grossing $93M domestic stateside this weekend, it should come as no surprise that Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros.‘ are already developing a sequel to the monster hit. It was confirmed to Deadline this morning that a Godzillasequel is underway. The beast is currently stomping across international markets to take No. 1 spots in most territories.

The picture was directed by Gareth Edwards, a young director who grew up on Star Wars and Steven Spielberg films. Godzilla has been made into features before over its 60-year history. The first being in 1954 when the Toho character appeared to be nothing more than a man in a rubber suit, but still fascinated both Japanese and American audiences. It was also made into a film in 1998 by Dean Devlin and director Roland Emmerich but had no where near the opening of this current one. In 1998, the film which starred Matthew Broderick, opened to $44M and went onto gross $136.3M. Worldwide, it grossed $379M. This one could double that.

Edwards has talked about what he would do with a sequel, saying he would use the same kind of restraint that he did for this one. He learned well from watching Spielberg films as the monster was only talked about for the first part of this film. And, of course, there were those reaction shots that added to the suspense. Edwards was given the chance by Legendary’s Thomas Tull who put faith in him to pull this off, having previously done Monsters which only grossed $2.6M in total. Tull has played coy in the media on the subject of a sequel, waiting for Godzilla‘s monster opening to confirm sequel plans. As Dan Fellman (WBros. head of domestic distribution) pointed out, they made more in one night (probably one late night run at 7 PM) than Edwards’ movie did in its entire run. Legendary’s Jon Jashni (BTW, one of the smartest execs in town) developed this along with Brian Rogers and Mary Parent. Max Borenstein scripted from a story by David Callaham.

The marketing on this film was excellent, with Legendary Pictures in-house team of Emily Castel, Barnaby Legg, Matthew Marolda and Peter Stone working closely with Warner Bros. and those folks who cut the trailer and did the key art and outdoor, namely vendors Trailer Park and Ignition. The promotional spots — really thought the Fiat one was great — were overseen by Gene Garlock who worked with all the Legendary team as well. Kudos all around.

Godzilla surprised everyone right out of the gate in late nights Thursday with a $9.3M haul and continued to rake in the bucks through the weekend. It is the highest IMAX opener so far this year with $14.1M (or 15%) of the domestic gross and IMAX screens brought in 51% of the international gross.

So everyone wants to know: Will Mothra be in the sequel?

http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/godz...edium=facebook

[The Fallen Deity]

Woah that was quick.

This is excellent news.

I'd love it if some of the other classic Kaiju's got "updated" like Big G was in the new film.

[Dispatch Ninja]

F yeah!

[Kevin Holly]

Why not Gareth Edward's Godzilla vs. Peter Jackson's King Kong?

[Astro Zombie]

Bring it on!

[Hardkore]

[Falaskan]

I'm fine with a sequel. Hope Taylor-Johnosn isn't in it!

Originally Posted by Kevin Holly

Why not Gareth Edward's Godzilla vs. Peter Jackson's King Kong?

Edwards's Godzilla would be taller than the Empire State Building. Jackson's King Kong was small enough to sit on top of it and swat at planes, so it wouldn't be a fair fight.

[madmojo]

Woohoo! I hope that they give it a bigger budget so that the people that complained about too little Godzilla will not complain as much. I loved the current one, but I'm sure they'll up the ante in the next one. I kinda hope Rodan or Ghidorah is in it if they license Toho monsters. I actually would like an original monster, though, more.

[kemcha]

Not surprising, considering how much the movie has already taken in. According to Boxofficemojo, the movie has already generated $196,205,000 worldwide. Yeah! $196 million and it's due to generate more before today is over.

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by kemcha

Not surprising, considering how much the movie has already taken in. According to Boxofficemojo, the movie has already generated $196,205,000 worldwide. Yeah! $196 million and it's due to generate more before today is over.

$196 includes estimates for today (Sunday).

[Kevin Holly]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

I'm fine with a sequel. Hope Taylor-Johnosn isn't in it!

Amen to that. What a letdown. If he becomes a big star for years, I'll be pretty upset.

[QUOTE=Falaskan;9204420[Edwards's Godzilla would be taller than the Empire State Building. Jackson's King Kong was small enough to sit on top of it and swat at planes, so it wouldn't be a fair fight. [/QUOTE]
Yeah that's true. I was just saying the first thing that came to my mind to bolster my post count.

[Foggy]

I'll be there opening day, glad the film has become such a huge hit.

[Kirk Out]

[Supermoviespot13]

HELL YEAH!!!!!!

[Dispatch Ninja]

From a Gareth Edwards interview last year when asked what he would like to do with a sequel:

“With the exception of the 1954 original, I would say my second favorite film is Destroy All Monsters. I just love the idea of a monster island. Having a world with these creatures in it. I find that fascinating and would like to treat that realistically. I wouldn’t want to limit it to one other foe, I think it’s more fun to – this question will come back to haunt me if we ever do a sequel – but I think multiple creatures make better movies in terms of the image of Gojira.”

[Col. Zombie]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

This is excellent news.

Originally Posted by Dispatch Ninja

F yeah!

Originally Posted by Astro Zombie

Bring it on!

Originally Posted by Hardkore

Originally Posted by Foggy

I'll be there opening day, glad the film has become such a huge hit.

All of the above plus a double "F yeah!"

The first film was amazing on so many different levels. I hope the second follows suit and gives us even more of the big guy and more monsters. please, oh please, oh please give us King Ghidorah or something like King Ghidorah.

[thenexus6]

My body is ready

[TheAtomizer]

While this isn't surprising in the least bit, it's really soon to announce sequels, but alas that's how hollywood does it nowadays it seems. I'm all for a Godzilla sequel if done right, I do believe i read an interview IGN had on Gareth about doing a sequel to this film that it would depend on a number of factors (not just box office revenue) at least for him coming back for another one. He wasn't keen on sequels to movies because more often than not it doesn't capture the luster of the first film which I kinda agree with, but at least let this sequel capture the mystery and allure of Godzilla the first film did and not exploit everything from the get go.

[kemcha]

That $196m doesn't include all of Sunday because this is still Sunday. Kind of hard to include Sunday with that since the theaters are still open. Right now, it's 7pm, EST, here in Michigan.

[madmojo]

Originally Posted by kemcha

That $196m doesn't include all of Sunday because this is still Sunday. Kind of hard to include Sunday with that since the theaters are still open. Right now, it's 7pm, EST, here in Michigan.

It's an estimate.