A little less than a year has passed since the last entry in Legendary's Monsterverse hit theaters. Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire hauled in the franchise's most impressive box office to date, and that's seemingly been enough motivation for Legendary Pictures—the studio that produces Godzilla and King Kong movies—to greenlight a new adventure.
The Monsterverse's next outing doesn't yet have a premise, but minor details are slowly coming out. For one, Dan Stevens is returning to play Trapper. The Titan veterinarian will reprise his role for the second time, adding some continuity to the story. He's presumably around to aid the big guys when they get injured, although Trapper could dip his toes into experimentation. Kong's arm accessory may need occasional tune-ups, and who knows if the big ape didn't suffer long-term damage from his tangle with Shimo. Audiences missed the numerous times that the icy lizard battered Kong with blasts, possibly injuring soft tissue. Plus, how would Kong know how severe an injury he has? There could be complications, plain and simple.
Whether that's the case with the big ape or not, Trapper is back. Hopefully, this time, he has an augmentation to pair with Godzilla. Perhaps a prosthetic helmet that protects the lizard's skull would work, giving Mecha Godzilla vibes while in battle. Early details claim an apocalyptic event transpires, which can only mean that a massive Titan threatens everyone on the planet. Such a danger presumably has a face, claws, or teeth— something that can deeply scar a gigantic lizard—attached to it.
In other Titan-related news, the next film recruits Jack O'Connell in an unnamed role. He joins Kaitlyn Dever as the newest pair of actors in the monster-centric franchise. Their inclusions aren't surprising since the most recent entry, New Empire, wrapped up Jia (Kaylee Hottle) and Dr. Andrews' story in the Hollow Earth neatly with a bow. The former pair could reappear—presumably to play translators between Kong and the human element at Monarch. Of course, Kong's ability to use sign language in past installments points to evolution happening, possibly to the point where he can vaguely communicate with anyone in his presence.
Audiences witnessed Godzilla reform his energy composition by consuming another Titan. With that in mind, nothing is preventing Kong from expanding the largest tool he has at his disposal—his brain. Other science fiction stories featuring hyper-intelligent apes, such as Planet of the Apes, always see them become more intelligent as time passes. Kong may never develop the capacity for speech, although becoming aware of the human-level events around him would prove his intelligence has increased.
Development of protagonists aside, the next entry in the Monsterverse is very intriguing because the Titan pair has virtually dominated the planet. Godzilla established dominance in King of the Monsters by ripping Ghidorah apart. Kong and his unlikely lizard companion teamed up to take down Mecha Godzilla in an uber-cool showdown. And the pair just went ten rounds with the Scar King, coming out the other end victorious. Whatever threat has the potential to be apocalyptic can only be something monumental. Perhaps something arrives from space.
Part of the Godzilla lore seemingly lost to time is the origin of many monsters—space. They're presumably absent so that the current cinematic universe is more grounded, but since Ghidorah's introduction, there's a precedent for space monsters crash-landing on the planet. Because of that, another world-ender might venture towards Earth. A space Titan resembling a meteor would be apt at this juncture. The monster threat is predictable at this point, but if their arrival alone heralds immediate destruction, the climactic battle could wind up in space. Kong and Godzilla have gone two levels down into the Hollow Earth—their next stop should be deep empty above. And let's be honest, it would be cool to see the pair equipped with helmets and boosters. Mind you, the franchise has had Kong ride atop Godzilla's back into battle—nothing is off the table anymore.
Godzilla X Kong: 3 release date is TBA. Official title is still undetermined.