Apple TV+‘s upcoming series set within Legendary Entertainment‘s MonsterVerse is officially titled Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters stars the father-son duo of Kurt and Wyatt Russell, who play the same character at different points in his life. The cast also includes Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, and Elisa Lasowski. In addition to the show’s title, Apple TV+ has revealed some first-look stills from Legacy of Monsters — featuring the Russells, Sawai, and the King of the Monsters himself: Godzilla.
What is Monarch: Legacy of Monsters about?
“In this epic journey, which follows the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ tracks two siblings following in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch,” an official description for Legacy of Monsters reads.
“Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (played Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows,” it continues. “The dramatic saga — spanning three generations — reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.”
Legacy of Monsters is developed by the duo of Star Trek: Enterprise scribe Chris Black and Hawkeye comic book writer Matt Fraction. Matt Shakman directs the MonsterVerse show’s first two episodes. Shakman is perhaps best known for directing Marvel Studios’ Disney+ series WandaVision. He is also attached to helm the studio’s upcoming Fantastic Four reboot.
Legendary’s MonsterVerse so far
Legendary‘s MonsterVerse kicked off in 2014 with the release of director Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla. Michael Dougherty helmed a sequel, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, which bowed in 2019. In the interim, Kong Skull: Island — Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ MonsterVerse reboot of King Kong — hit the silver screen in 2017. The two iconic kaijus clashed in director Adam Wingard’s 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong. Wingard is attached to helm a sequel, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which is due for release on March 15, 2024.
Apple TV+’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the first live-action streaming series to spin out of the big-screen MonsterVerse. However, it is not the first overall. That honor belongs to the animated series Skull Island, which debuted on Netflix this past June.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters will stream on Apple TV+. The series does not yet have a premiere date.