Surprisingly, several of the biggest developments fromGodzilla x Kong: The New Empirewere set in motion long before the film’s release. The fifth big-screen installment in Legendary’s Monsterverse greatly expanded Godzilla and Kong’s world, introducing a brand-new corner of its universe: the Subterranean Realm. In doing so,Godzilla x Kongreignited an ancient conflict and brought in a powerful threat in the form of the Monsterverse’s Skar King.
The Skar King was a new addition toGodzilla and Kong’s Monsterverse movies, with his backstory revealing a once-hidden chapter in Godzilla’s ancient history. However, that’s not to say that his battle with Godzilla, Kong, and Mothra came without setup. AfterGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire’sending, it’s apparent that all sorts of reveals from earlier on in the Monsterverse were much more important than they seemed. As it turns out, many were crucial to Godzilla and Kong’s team-up movie.
Normally, it would stand to reason that Monsterverse stories told outside the films won’t actually matter in the grand scheme of things. However, that was hardly the case, asGodzilla x Kongpulled heavily from multiple sources, not just the movies that preceded it. Fights from the Monsterverse tie-in comics, for instance, ended up shaping parts ofGodzilla x Kong’sstory, with Godzilla having surprise rematches with two monsters he fought on the page rather than on the screen.
7Scylla’s Rebellion Against Godzilla
Godzilla’s first scene inThe New Empire featured an unexpected battle between him and Scylla, one of the original Titans fromGodzilla: King of the Monsters.Going off what happened inKing of the Monstersalone,it may have been surprising to see Godzilla clash with one of the Titans who accepted him as the alpha several years prior. But in the context ofGodzilla: Dominion, this turn of events makes a great deal of sense. In theGodzilla vs. Konggraphic novel prequel, Godzilla had a brief fight with Scylla in Georgia.
All 10 Powers Godzilla Has In The MonsterVerse
Godzilla has many powers in the MonsterVerse, appearing in movies, TV, novelizations, and graphic novels, with some far more devastating than others.
Godzilla: Dominionpresented her as a rebellious, somewhat out-of-control monster. Godzilla reined in the Titans and stopped them from going on land when he beat Ghidorah, but as explained byDominion, there were some - like Scylla - who didn’t stay in line.Godzilla had to remind Scylla that he was the alphainDominion, with this moment serving as early evidence of Scylla’s willingness to defy him. Because of this, it’s easier to see why Godzilla was so quick to kill her inThe New Empire. It’s likely that he had come to understand that she couldn’t be controlled.
6Shimo’s Debut
Shimo’s Design Was Teased Before Godzilla x Kong
Arguably the biggest hint toward Shimo’s existence in the Monsterverse came from an unorthodox source - a video game. In 2022,Call of Duty: Warzonelaunched a promotional Monsterverse crossover event that featured both Godzilla and Kong. It also showcased some ancient cave paintings depicting some of the Titans. Curiously, one was of an unidentified monster unconnected to any existing Monsterverse designs. Now, though,it’s clear thatCall of Duty’smystery monster was Shimo all along.
There being some form of recorded history for Shimo via paintings feels fitting, given what’s known about her now. At Skar King’s behest, Shimo went to war with Godzilla and started the last Ice Age. It’s no wonder she left an impression on the Monsterverse’s ancient humans, prompting them to memorialize her in their cave murals.
5Shimo Started The Ice Age
King Of The Monsters Confirmed Titans Could Cause Ice Ages
It’s true that Shimo herself was never referenced in the Monsterverse’s movies, but one in particular did tease an event she was involved with. The redacted text inGodzilla: King of the Monsters’credits confirmed thata Titan-related incident was responsible for the Ice Age, but didn’t provide specifics on which monster caused it. All that was established was that humans caused a “cataclysm,” thus triggering the Ice Age.
The prospect of a Titan being the root cause of the Ice Age was a massive reveal, and one that ultimately carried over toGodzilla x Kong.It also works well with the wider lore of the Monsterverse. What Ghidorah tried to do in King of the Monsters was proof of how destructive Titans can be to the environment. With their powers, they can reshape the entire climate of the Earth. Just as Ghidorah nearly covered the planet in a storm by terraforming it,Shimo used her Frostbite Blast, likely the strongest power in the Monsterverse, to consume the surface with ice and snow.
4Titans Can Be Controlled
Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Teased Titan Mind Control
Another aspect ofGodzilla x Kong’sstory that can be traced back toKing of the Monstersis its implementation of mind control. InGodzilla x Kong, Skar King used a mysterious blue crystal to cause unbearable pain to Shimo, essentially binding her to his will. This made Shimo a slave to the Skar King for thousands of years. Shimo being a “good” monster forced to fight on the behalf of a villain ties in to some lines from the redacted text, which allude to mind control.
According to the story provided by the credits,humans tried to make slaves of the Titans.Exactly how they did it wasn’t explained explicitly, but it was said that they developed methods of “telepathic communication,” which may or may not be how it worked. This also connects toGodzilla x Kong, as there seemed to be a psychic connection betweenthe Monsterverse’s Shimoand Skar KIng that was held together by the crystal. Skar King seemingly sent mental commands through the crystal to Shimo who either obeyed or paid a painful price for not following orders.
3The Hollow Earth Has Multiple Realms
Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters Established A Key Hollow Earth Concept
Most of the setup forGodzilla x Kongstems fromKing of the Monsters, but at least one piece of the lore originated fromMonarch: Legacy of Monsters. Apple TV+’s show dove back down into theMonsterverse’s Hollow Earth world, but the place it visited was unique to what was seen in the film. What it featured was a place called Axis Mundi, a section of the underground world between the surface and Kong’s new home. It was referred to as a “realm” inMonarch: Legacy of Monsters.
Thanks toMonarch: Legacy of the Monsters, it was understood thatthe Hollow Earth is divided up into several realms, with Axis Mundi being one and the place inGodzilla vs. Kongbeing another. In other words, not all of it looks like the world explored in the film, with regions of the Hollow Earth boasting their own ecosystems and geography.Godzilla x Kongbuilt on this idea when it introduced the Subterranean Realm, a corner of the Hollow Earth world found deeper thanGodzilla vs. Kong’s.
2Kong’s BEAST Glove
Mechagodzilla’s Parts Were Used To Design Kong’s New Weapon
Despite all the senseless destruction he wrought in Godzilla vs. Kong’s ending, Mechagodzilla wound up making a positive impact in the sequel. InThe New Empirenovelization, the Monsterverse confirmed that Monarch confiscated APEX’s Mechagodzilla parts after Kong destroyed him in Hong Kong. As revealed by the book, studying that technology is what yielded Monarch’s construction of the BEAST Glove. The Beast Glove is the weaponized tech gauntlet that Monarch equips Kong with in the film, giving him access to hiselectrical powers fromKing Kong vs. Godzilla.
The BEAST Glove became instrumental toGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire’saction. Due to the damage done to his arm by Shimo, he wouldn’t been able to be of much help against Skar King, much less survive the fight with Godzilla in Egypt. With it, Kong had a suitable replacement for the Godzilla-powered axe, and now that he carries both weapons, Kong may be at the peak of his power in the Monsterverse - and it’s all thanks toAPEX creating Mechagodzilla.
1Godzilla’s Evolved Form
Tiamat Was Introduced Before Godzilla x Kong
Similar to the situation with Kong and the BEAST Glove, Godzilla’s upgrade fromGodzilla x Kongwas also set up ahead of the movie. The Monarch monitor screens in King of the Monsters unveiled the names and locations of several monsters,11 of which being Titans who didn’t actually appearin the movie.Dominionacted on this reveal, showing off two of the unseen monsters, Amhuluk and Tiamat. Both battled Godzilla, with Tiamat - introduced as a sea serpent - providing the more difficult challenge of the two.
At the time, there was no indication thatDominion’sofficial introduction of Tiamat would ever be relevant to the movies themselves, butGodzilla x Kongproved otherwise. Tweaking the designDominiongave her,Godzilla x Kong: The New Empirebrought Tiamat into live-action, allowing her power source to become the catalyst for Godzilla’s Evolved form and new pink aesthetic. Tiamat’s design sported the same pink color, which further demonstrates that Godzilla stole her energy.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Cast
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire unites iconic monsters Godzilla and Kong in a colossal confrontation. As these ancient titans clash, humans delve into their shared origins and explore the enigmatic secrets of Skull Island.
