Warner Bros./Getty Images/Warner Bros.
Adam Wingard, who developed his upcoming Netflix movie Death Note at Warner Bros., has been hired by the studio to direct its big-budget tentpole GODZILLA VS. KONG, the Tracking Board has confirmed.
Several studios have been eager to be in business with Wingard, who was also in the mix to direct Venom for Sony. He’s an even stronger fit for WB’s monster movie, as the up-and-coming filmmaker is behind such acclaimed genre films as You’re Next and The Guest, as well as the Blair Witch remake. Wingard’s dark instincts should serve him well on Godzilla vs. Kong, which is slated for release on May 22, 2020.
It’s unclear who the GvK script will ultimately be credited to, as veteran scribe Terry Rossio (Pirates of the Caribbean) was tapped in March to lead a writers room featuring J. Michael Straczynski, Lindsey Beer, Cat Vasko, T.S. Nowlin, Jack Paglen and the Star Trek Beyond team of J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay.
Warner Bros. and Legendary are backing the Monsterverse and though they’re keeping plot details under wraps for Godzilla vs. Kong, you can safely expect the secret government organization Monarch to serve as a bridge between the two franchises.
“Cue the tweets telling me I’ve already ruined Godzilla and Kong [sic],” Wingard joked on Twitter, before following up with a second statement. “In all seriousness I’m really very excited. This is a total playground.”
2014’s Godzilla grossed $529 million worldwide, while Kong: Skull Island grossed $565 million worldwide when it stomped into theaters this past March, suggesting that a feature pitting the creatures against each other could do monster business. WB has already started filming the sequel Godzilla: King of the Monsters, which will star Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga and Millie Bobby Brown, though it’s unclear whether they’ll return in GvK.
Wingard is represented by CAA, manager Jeremy Platt of Plattform and attorney Todd Rubenstein of Morris Yorn. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of his hiring.
Jeff Sneider | Editor in Chief
