Godzilla x Kong: The New Kingdom marks the return of the famous kaijus to the big screen, but who is the villain in the new MonsterVerse film?
While Godzilla was recently in the spotlight with the film Godzilla Minus One released at the end of last year in theaters, the famous kaiju of Japanese cinema will soon return to the forefront with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, following the events that occurred in Godzilla vs. Kong (2021).
This is the fifth installment of the MonsterVerse, a cinematic universe launched by Warner Bros. in collaboration with Legendary Pictures but also Tōhō, which owns the rights to Godzilla. The franchise debuted in 2014 with the Godzilla reboot. Other projects have also seen the light of day since then, namely the animated series Skull Island released on Netflix, as well as the series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters available on Apple TV+.
And while many fans are eager to see the two famous giant monsters back in the cinema in Godzilla x Kong: The New Kingdom, the duo of kaijus will have to face a new threat that could completely upset the balance in the world of the Titans.
Who is the bad guy in Godzilla x Kong: The New Kingdom?
The public will be able to discover two new creatures in Godzilla x Kong: The New Kingdom. Named Skar King and Shimo, these monsters will be the two new villains who will face the famous Titans of the MonsterVerse.
Skar King is a giant simian Titan that was revealed late last year on the film’s official Instagram page. A red image of the monster’s face could then be seen, next to the words “Bow down to your king” . This matches Skar King’s red fur, which can be seen in subsequent trailers.
This new enemy appears to be as big, or even bigger, than King Kong, and in the first trailer for the feature film, he can be seen sitting on a throne, towering over the other Kongs. Skar King has a tall, lean build, with long legs and arms, reminiscent of an orangutan.
Speaking to Total Film about the new addition, writer-director Adam Wingard, to whom we already owe Godzilla vs. Kong, explained: “[…] Skar King is, in a way, the thing closest to a human threat ever juxtaposed against a Titan himself. […] The Skar King represents almost a magnified version of the worst aspects of humanity, just as Kong represents some of the best aspects of humanity. I would say the Skar King is the biggest threat we’ve seen in these films.
The monster wields a weapon—called a Whiplash—that is made from the spine of a dead Titan, and which features a crystal blade capable of slashing the flesh of other Titans. The Whiplash would also be used to control Skar King’s accomplice.
Shimo is the other villain of Godzilla x Kong: The New Kingdom. It is a white reptilian Titan. This monster can shoot deadly ice beams from its mouth which, according to the character’s Playmates figure, are called ‘Frost Bite Blasts’. Shimo is said to be the largest Titan ever seen in the Monsterverse, meaning it will take the combined might of Godzilla and King Kong to take down the creature.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Kingdom will be available in our cinemas from April 3, 2024. But in the meantime, you can also discover our list of the best streaming movies of this month.
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