In recent years, the MonsterVerse has become increasingly less grounded, transforming into a world that's a far cry from what we saw when Gareth Edwards relaunched the Godzilla franchise in 2014. Under Adam Wingard's watch, that was taken to the next level with the wildly over-the-top Godzilla vs. Kong.
The filmmaker plans to up the ante in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, but in the wake of the critically acclaimed Godzilla Minus One, it's clear there are very different ways to adapt these iconic kaiju on screen.
Empire recently caught up with Takashi Yamazaki to get his thoughts on the Americanisation of the Godzilla franchise under Warner Bros.' watch. However, rather than slating the MonsterVerse, the Godzilla Minus One helmer expressed an appreciation for what that franchise has added to Toho lore.
"Hollywood interpretation of Godzilla is a very interesting use of the IP," Yamazaki tells the site. "It can endure and survive many different interpretations. To me, it's a more fun version of what Godzilla can be - the classic Toho version did explore something like that at one point in its history."
"Within that genre, I think they do a good job of [balancing] what the humans do, versus what the kaiju are doing."
The publication also caught up with Wingard and was keen to get his take on Godzilla Minus One. Despite being an epic adventure for the King of Monsters, it's a very different approach to the Titan which The New Empire helmer admits to being blown away by.
"It was fantastic. It's one of the best Godzilla movies I've ever seen," Wingard states. "Their take on Godzilla is so different than mine. I'm following the later '60s, 70s Showa pattern, where Godzilla is the hero character."
"In Minus One, Godzilla reacts in a way that's metaphorical to what the characters are going through. It's such a different movie than ours tonally. You're getting more Godzilla now than ever, but you're seeing all sides of him. It's really super-cool."
In case you missed it, you can relive the epic new trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire below.
The epic battle continues! Legendary Pictures' cinematic Monsterverse follows up the explosive showdown of 'Godzilla vs. Kong' with an all-new adventure that pits the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence—and our own. 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' delves further into the histories of these Titans and their origins, as well as the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire rampages into theaters on March 29.