Source: Warner Bros. Pictures press release Following the global success of 2014’s GODZILLA and this year’s KONG: SKULL ISLAND, comes the next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ cinematic MonsterVerse: an epic action adventure that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history. GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, which begins principal photography today, is being directed by Michael Dougherty (KRAMPUS), and stars Oscar nominees Vera Farmiga (UP IN THE AIR, THE CONJURING films), and Ken Watanabe (THE LAST SAMURAI) and Sally Hawkins (BLUE JASMINE), both reprising their GODZILLA roles; Kyle Chandler (THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA); Millie Bobby Brown (STRANGER THINGS) in her feature film debut; Bradley Whitford (GET OUT); Thomas Middleditch (HBO’s SILICON VALLEY); Charles Dance (HBO’s GAME OF THRONES); O’Shea Jackson Jr. (STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON); Aisha Hinds (STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS); and Golden Globe nominee Zhang Ziyi (MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON). The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species -- thought to be mere myths -- rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance. Dougherty directs from a script he wrote with Zach Shields. The film is being produced by Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Brian Rogers and Thomas Tull, with Barry H. Waldman, Zach Shields, Yoshimitsu Banno and Kenji Okuhira serving as executive producers and Alexandra Mendes co-producing for Legendary. Behind the scenes, Dougherty’s creative team includes director of photography Lawrence Sher, whose past credits include WAR DOGS and GODZILLA, for which he handled additional photography; production designer Scott Chambliss (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Vol. 2, STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS); editor Roger Barton (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES, the TRANSFORMERS films); costume designer Louise Migenbach (the X-MEN and HANGOVER films); and Oscar-winning VFX supervisor Guillaume Rocheron (GODZILLA, GHOST IN THE SHELL, and part of the Oscar-winning team behind LIFE OF PI). Filming is taking place mainly in Atlanta, Georgia. A presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, the film is currently scheduled for release in March 2019, and will be distributed in 3D and 2D and in select IMAX theaters by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, except in Japan, where it will be distributed by Toho Co., Ltd.
About Warner Bros. Pictures
Warner Bros. Pictures has been at the forefront of the motion picture industry since its inception and continues to be a leading creative force in the industry. Warner Bros. Pictures produces and distributes a wide-ranging slate of some 18-22 films each year, employing a business paradigm that mitigates risk while maximizing productivity and capital. Warner Bros. Pictures either fully finances or co-finances the films it produces and maintains worldwide distribution rights. It further monetizes its distribution and marketing operations by distributing films that are totally financed and produced by others. Current multi-faceted co-financing joint ventures include those with Village Roadshow Pictures and RatPac-Dune Entertainment. Warner Bros. Pictures also has a distribution, co-financing deal with Alcon Entertainment. 2016 marked the 10th consecutive year Warner Bros. Pictures crossed the $3 billion mark at the global box office with $4.93 billion in worldwide receipts ($1.90 billion domestic, $3.03 billion international). The year was also 16th consecutive frame that both the domestic and international divisions crossed the billion-dollar mark -- a milestone no other studio has achieved. Among the films on Warner Bros. Pictures` 2017 slate are THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE, KONG: SKULL ISLAND, KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD, WONDER WOMAN, DUNKIRK, ANNABELLE 2 (from New Line Cinema), IT (New Line Cinema), THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE and JUSTICE LEAGUE.
