Initial release date: March 10, 2017
Studios: Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures/Tencent Pictures
Tagline: Awaken The King
Plot: Scientists, soldiers and adventurers unite to explore a mythical, uncharted Island in the Pacific Ocean. Cut off from everything they know, they venture into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery soon becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape from a primal world where humanity doesn't belong.
Cast
Tom Hiddleston - James Conrad
Samuel L. Jackson - Preston Packard
Brie Larson - Mason Weaver
John C Reilly - Hank Marlow
John Goodman - Bill Randa
Corey Hawkins - Houston Brooks
John Ortiz - Victor Nieves
Tian Jing - San
Toby Kebbell - Jack Chapman/Kong (motion capture)
Jason Mitchell - Mills
Shea Whighham - Cole
Thomas Mann - Slivko
Richard Jenkins - Senator Willis
Writer(s): Max Borenstein (Godzilla vs. Kong)
Dan Gilroy (Netflix's Velvet Buzzsaw)
Derek Connolly (Jurassic World: Dominion; Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker)
Director: Jordan Vagt-Roberts
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for brief strong language (117 minutes)
Kong: Skull Island is a fast-paced installment of this universe that delivers spectacular and compelling action moments. The scene where Kong attacks the Army and Monarch scientists/adventurers as they entered the island is thrilling and awesome.
This Kong reboot is slightly different than the other cinematic versions of the Kong character and it works just fine. Just like 2014s Godzilla, the action and visual effects are really breath-taking and exciting!!! And John C Reilly in a smaller, yet pivotal role, is entertaining as always!!!
Kong: Skull Island also gives a little backstory on Kong and Monarch. And since this movie takes place in the 70s, the soundtrack is great!!!
Catch all the MonsterVerse movies (except for the new movie for now) on the Max streaming service!!
HERE ARE SOME INTERESTING TIDBITS FOR KONG: SKULL ISLAND!!!
Originally, the movie was over three hours long, however it was cut down to one hour 58 minutes in length. Elements of the movie's extended plot that didn't make it into the final cut can be found within the movie's novelization.
The scenes with mountains, rivers and grassy fields were mostly shot in Vietnam, including Ninh Binh and Quang Binh. The cast members and director said they were the most beautiful places that they've ever been.
The second installment of the MonsterVerse, following Godzilla.
Various direct references to 1933's King Kong occur throughout the movie, such as when Kong is seen fighting off helicopters like the original Kong battled planes in NYC, and Kong being briefly held back by chains is reminiscent of King Kong put on display for an audience. The lead female character confronting Kong is also a recurring theme throughout several Kong films.
In September 2015, Legendary Pictures moved this movie from Universal to Warner Brothers.
The reason Kong is larger than any of his other incarnations is due to the fact that with Godzilla vs. Kong, Kong would've been too small to fight Godzilla as his more traditional size. This is also why they included the line in the movie that "he's still growing."
In 2013, Peter Jackson, director of the 2005 remake of King Kong, initially handpicked Adam Wingard to direct Skull Island, a then-sequel to Jackson's film. The film was officially announced by Legendary Pictures at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con and Universal was the original distributor.
Legendary then moved the project to WB to eventually develop a crossover movie featuring Kong and Godzilla.
Kong: Skull Island grossed $168 million domestic and $400.6 million in other territories for a worldwide gross of $568.6 million. With a production budget of $185 million, and about $136 million more spent on international marketing costs, the movie needed to make at least $450-500 million worldwide to break even.