Adam Wingard, director of the last two successful MonsterVerse films, won’t be returning for a third installment, sources reveal. Wingard, who recently helmed “Godzilla x Kong: New Empire,” has amicably parted ways with Legendary due to scheduling conflicts.
Despite expressing interest in continuing the MonsterVerse saga, Wingard is focusing on a new project, an action thriller titled “Onslaught,” which A24 has picked up for a fall shoot.
“Godzilla x Kong: New Empire” has been a financial hit, grossing over $564 million globally since its late March release. However, Wingard’s new commitments didn’t align with Legendary’s plans to quickly advance to the next monster film.
Legendary’s move to hire Dave Callaham, known for his work on “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” to draft a new script signaled a shift. This week, the split was made official.
As Legendary looks ahead, it’s uncertain if the franchise will continue exploring concepts like Hollow Earth or characters introduced by Wingard, such as Dan Stevens’ adventurous vet.
Wingard exits on a high note, with “Godzilla x Kong” poised to become the highest-grossing film in the MonsterVerse, surpassing 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island.”
Wingard’s first entry in the series, “Godzilla vs. Kong,” released during the pandemic, grossed over $100 million domestically and $470 million worldwide, contributing remarkably to the revival of theatrical cinema during a challenging time.