In March 2021, Godzilla vs. Kong filmmaker Adam Wingard first agreed to create a live-action version of the popular ThunderCats animation series from the 1980s. Unfortunately, there hasn't been much new information about the project since it was initially revealed that Wingard will be directing it for Warner Bros.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, a film that will be released in North American cinemas at the end of the month, is Wingard's second foray into the MonsterVerse movie series, after his work on Godzilla vs. Kong.
Wingard mentioned during a promotional interview for The New Empire that he had just completed the most recent draft of the ThunderCats script before going into production on the MonsterVerst film and that now that his commitment to the project is nearly up with the film's looming release, he'll go back to working on the script.
Speaking to io9, Wingard stated, "Simon [Barrett] and I are still actively working on the script. We finished our last draft basically right when I was going into production on this movie and we just had to put everything on hold. [But] right now we’re actively working on it again. So whether that means that’s the next thing I do or [not], I’m not sure. But it’s definitely one of the top priorities I have right now in terms of working on a script.”
As Wingard mentioned above, he'll direct from a script co-written by Simon Barrett (You’re Next, The Guest).
Advance sales for Dynamite Entertainment's recent comic book relaunch of the ThunderCats provides solid indication that interest in the classic Rankin Bass animated series remains high so WB and Wingard likely shouldn't hold off too long on moving forward with the film.
Debuting in 1985, the ThunderCats were a popular animated series that ran for 4 seasons, totaling 130 episodes. A 2011 reboot of the series aired on Cartoon Network for 26 episodes before being canceled due to poor merchandise sales. Likewise, a Teen Titans Go!-inspired third reboot, 2020's ThunderCats Roar, also failed to gain traction with audiences.
It should also be noted that there's no guarantee that the ThunderCats movie will be the next film that Wingard directs. He's also signed on to helm a remake of the 1997 John Travolta and Nicolas Cage sci-fi action-thriller, Face/Off.
Plus, if The New Empire proves successful, there's no guarantee that Wingard won't sign on to helm another MonsterVerse film. Godzilla vs Kong earned $470 million at the box office in 2021, during a time when WB opted to release films simultaneously on HBO Max, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Early box office tracking for the film indicates that The New Empire will greatly exceed the previous film's earnings.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire arrives in theaters on March 29.