Monarch: Legacy Of Monsters Release Date, Cast, Trailer, Plot And More Details

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Legendary's MonsterVerse stomped its way onto the big screen back in 2014, unleashing Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Olsen, and some very angry kaiju onto the world with "Godzilla." Since then, cinema's most famous monster and his oversized buddies have been wrecking cities and crushing the box office with "Kong: Skull Island," "Godzilla: King of the Monsters," and "Godzilla vs. Kong." And now, the MonsterVerse is about to release the Titans onto the small screen too.

That's right — Godzilla is coming to streaming with "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters." The series will involve the titular scientific agency, which is basically the MonsterVerse's version of Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. The enigmatic organization has played a part in every installment in the series so far, and now, we're digging a bit deeper into the group that studies giant monkeys, three-headed dragons, and enormous insects. Want to know more about the upcoming series? Then read on for everything you need to know about "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters."

"Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" was ordered to series back in January 2022. We finally got our first glimpse of the project in August 2023, with the release of several promo images. It took a while to get an actual release date, but with the arrival of the trailer, fans finally learned when this series will land on their screens: November 17, 2023.

When "Monarch" is finally released, it will air on Apple TV+. We also know the series will run for 10 episodes, which means we're bound to get plenty of kaiju battles and city-wide destruction. In the meantime, you can catch up on Apple TV+'s other sci-fi offerings, such as "Silo," "Foundation," and "Severance."

"Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" isn't exactly a prequel or a sequel. It's more of a midquel, set after the events of the 2014 "Godzilla." If you'll remember, that blockbuster flick found Godzilla squaring off against some overgrown bugs called MUTOs (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms) — to the shock and awe of everyone on the planet, most of whom were just now learning about the existence of these prehistoric creatures (aka the Titans).

According to the official plot synopsis, the series will pick up in the devastating wake of Godzilla's San Francisco battle against the MUTOs, and it will focus on "two siblings following in their father's footsteps to uncover their family's connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw."

The series will be split into two timelines, with one set in the 1950s and one set during the 2010s, "where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows." The synopsis goes on to say, "The dramatic saga — spanning three generations — reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, Earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives."

One of the most intriguing things about "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" is its impressive line-up of on-screen talent. In a genius bit of casting, both Kurt Russell and his son, Wyatt Russell, will be playing the same character — Army officer Lee Shaw. Wyatt will play the younger Shaw in the 1950s timeline while Kurt will star as an older version of the character in the 2010s.

Obviously, Kurt Russell is one of the most famous movie stars in Hollywood history, playing in major films such as "The Thing," "Tombstone," and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2." Wyatt also has a pretty impressive resume, acting in projects such as "Everybody Wants Some!!" and "Lodge 49." Of course, he's probably best known as the hot-headed John Walker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

As for the rest of the cast, we'll see Anna Sawai of "Pachinko" fame and Kiersey Clemons of "The Flash." They'll be joined by Anders Holm ("Workaholics"), Joe Tippett ("Mare of Easttown"), Elisa Lasowski ("Game of Thrones"), Mari Yamamoto ("Pachinko"), and Hollywood newcomer Ren Watabe. It also appears that the GOAT John Goodman will be reprising the part of William Randa, his character from "Kong: Skull Island."

Just like the Monarch agency is controlled by very powerful figures, "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" is overseen by some pretty impressive creatives. The series was developed by the dynamic duo of Chris Black and Matt Fraction. Black is no stranger to Apple TV+ productions, having served as an executive producer on "Severance" and penning the eighth episode, "What's for Dinner?" He's additionally worked on shows such as "Invincible" and "Outcast."

Fraction, on the other hand, hails from the world of comics. Along with David Aja, he created the comic book run that inspired the MCU series "Hawkeye," and he's also worked on titles such as "Uncanny X-Men" and "The Invincible Iron Man." Speaking of Marvel, we know that Matt Shakman of "WandaVision" and "Fantastic Four" fame will be directing the first two episodes of the series, and all three of those aforementioned creatives will be executive producing alongside names such as Joby Harold ("Obi-Wan Kenobi"), Tory Tunnell ("Underground"), Andy Goddard ("Carnival Row"), Brad Van ("Yellowjackets"), Andrew Colville ("Severance"), and Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita of Toho, the company that first gave life to Godzilla.

The "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" trailer is a vivid glimpse of kaiju mayhem. A woman — presumably our lead, Cate Randa — recalls Godzilla's battle in San Francisco. There were mysterious agents among the rubble, she says, who seemed to have anticipated such an attack. Things only get more complex from there as she discusses the mysteriously Monarch-stamped artifacts left behind in her father's safe, and her friends examine heavily censored files on the enigmatic organization. Soon, our heroes are plunged into pulse-pounding action sequences. Monsters splinter ice fields, mow down trees, lurk beneath the waves, and emerge from gelatinous eggs. "This world, it's not ours," a voice intones. "Believe me." This is made entirely clear with Godzilla himself rises from the ocean to deliver his signature roar.

The teaser trailer is similarly jam-packed with thrilling shots, battles, landscapes, and, of course, monsters. It offers an especially interesting look at the effects these creatures have had on the world, from the ruins of San Francisco to "Godzilla Evacuation Route" stickers in public places. "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" is poised to explore their power through multiple decades and three generations. And, naturally, it'll also be full of extremely cool shots of kaiju wreaking havoc.

Before Gojira starts breathing radioactive flame all over Apple TV+, you might want to go back and check out the previous entries in the MonsterVerse, especially if you want to learn more about Monarch.

It all starts with 2014's "Godzilla," which gave us one of the most memorable movie quotes of all time: "Let them fight!" You can rent the first film in the franchise for $3.99 on services such as Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube.

The next entry in the series introduced us to the other major player in the MonsterVerse series: King Kong. Taking a page from "Apocalypse Now," "Kong: Skull Island" is a '70s-set, Vietnam War-inspired monster tale that stars huge names like Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, and Samuel L. Jackson. Plus, it just might be the best film in the franchise. You can rent it for $3.99 on sites such as Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube.

While it's definitely the most critically despised of the bunch, "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" delivers on the kaiju action. In fact, it brings in three of the biggest A-listers from Toho's impressive creature lineup: Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah. You can stream "King of the Monsters" on Netflix or rent it for $3.99 on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube.

Then there's the clash of the Titans. In one corner, you have King Kong, and he is mad. And then in the other corner, you have Godzilla, and he's mad. What more do we need to say? To watch this awesome showdown, you can stream "Godzilla vs. Kong" on Max, or you can rent it on sites such as Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube.

Oh — if you want to know more about the upcoming movie, we've got you covered. Read about "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" here.

The theme of giant monsters destroying their way through infrastructure and trampling innocent people in their wake must be a difficult genre for the Motion Picture Association (MPA) to rate. The original "Gojira" film released in 1954 is widely considered a horror movie. However, the modern-era MonsterVerse projects — such as the most recent "Godzilla vs. Kong" — are better classified as action sci-fi projects, with a fitting PG-13 rating. So, what kind of family-friendliness can we expect out of the MonsterVerse's first live-action television series?

Apple TV+ has given "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" the rating of TV-Y. The grading indicates that the series is appropriate for all ages. Arguably, with a certain amount of "fantasy violence" expected throughout viewing, a TV-Y7 rating may be more appropriate. Regardless, "Monarch" will be a binge-worthy adventure fit for family night. And for some children who have always been curious about a giant lizard stamping their way through a city, the Apple TV+ show can be their first glimpse at the original kaiju, Godzilla.

Breaking ground, "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" is rumored to have been filmed with Apple's latest high-tech gadgets. Turns out, being funded by one of the biggest tech producers in the world may come with a few benefits for the series. In the summer of 2023, Apple introduced their new headset, the Apple Vision Pro, featuring augmented reality and a slew of cameras, sensors, and unprecedented computing gimmicks. One of Vision Pro's most heavily promoted features was Spatial Video, which allows the user to immerse themselves in imagery and have the perspective change as they move, similar to a hologram.

A short time after the technology was announced, an Apple insider indicated via X (formerly known as Twitter) that "Monarch: The Legacy of Monsters" had been filmed with the Spatial Video format. Unfortunately, as the release date of the new Apple TV+ series approaches, the company has yet to officially confirm that it will be viewable through the Vision Pro. However, it has expressed that many projects that will be are in the works. Apple has also held demonstrations of the highly anticipated Apple Immersive Video, which could change the way that we watch movies and television in the future ... and it may all start with the MonsterVerse series.

Gone are the days when movies featuring giant monsters were limited to attacking a city or two and returning to their respective homes. Films have gotten much bigger throughout the years. Now, these projects appropriately showcase how a kaiju monster would have the entire world turning its heads. The MonsterVerse was one of the first American projects featuring Godzilla in which the beast doesn't limit his destruction to metropolises like Tokyo or New York City. Rather, the lizard, King Kong, and their MUTO brethren pop up across the globe throughout the four feature films.

It can be expected with global-scale terror and generation-jumping timelines that "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" will feature multiple international settings. Aside from a few terrains showcased in the trailer, the filming locations of the series give us some clues as to what and where to anticipate.

Primarily, "Monarch" was filmed in Vancouver, Canada, and throughout the province of British Columbia. One Van City local on X (formerly known as Twitter) shared behind-the-scenes shots of the city being turned into a makeshift army camp. Meanwhile, the cast confirmed that they traveled over the Pacific, and filmed on location in Tokyo, Japan. Additionally, showrunner Chris Black revealed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, that some scenes were captured on location in Hawaii: "When Matt Shakman, who directed the premiere, went on the location scout in Hawaii and was looking for places to shoot, the place they found was this really dramatic lava rock coastline."

Godzilla may not have an iconic theme song on the level of "Jaws" or "Superman," but the larger-than-life character has been known to break the music charts. The 1998 "Godzilla" movie featuring Matthew Broderick and Hank Azaria may be a forgettable iteration of the kaiju movies, however, the soundtrack certainly made waves. "Godzilla: The Album" raked in over 2.5 million sales, enough for it to reach platinum status in the United States. Since then, audiophiles have certainly kept an ear out whenever Godzilla has stomped back around.

For "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," the soundtrack will go down a surprising route. Hired on for the series' score is composer Leopold Ross, best known for his techno-inspired beats for films like "The Book of Eli." The unique-to-Godzilla synth-heavy soundtrack will be released on the same day the series premieres on Apple TV+, November 17, 2023. For now, eager audiences can get their first taste of the new theme, as the first track of the soundtrack is available to listen to now.

It is easy to get caught up in the thrill of seeing heavyweight monsters on television, but the series is not named after the biggest baddie of them all — Godzilla — for a reason. The show is predominantly about the secret international organization known as Monarch. Agents of the "Men in Black"-inspired group pop up around the cinematic universe intent on keeping MUTOs a secret and protecting the innocent world from MUTO-related destruction.

If you watched the four previous MonsterVerse films and don't recall much about Monarch's involvement, they are probably doing their jobs extremely well. Hopefully, a quick reminder of the organization's history will catch you up to speed.

Introduced in 2014's "Godzilla," Monarch's origins stretch back to when Big Green was first discovered in 1943 and they spent the following decades attempting to find the beast before it helped them defeat a new MUTO in 2014. In "Kong: Skull Island," Monarch assisted in discovering the titular lost island, essentially uncovering a world of monsters. By 2019's "Godzilla: King of the Monsters," the organization became public knowledge and shifted its motives towards the preservation of the endangered monsters. Most recently, in "Godzilla vs. Kong," Monarch was at the center of the battle after moving the giant ape from his unstable island home, causing Godzilla to behave aggressively.

Although everything that you need to know about Monarch is available in the MonsterVerse feature films, there is more to uncover. Notably, Monarch's presence online IRL has offered some clues on what to expect from the Apple TV+ series "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters."

A long-running social media account on X (formerly known as Twitter), @MonarchSciences, has long been a source of MonsterVerse content. Mysteriously, in October 2023, the account came out of dormancy after three-plus years with some curious messages. "This account no longer belongs to Monarch," reads one post. Meanwhile, the tagline for the account reads: "It belongs to the truth. Soon, the rest will surface."

Additionally, an equally enigmatic website has emerged ahead of the release of "Legacy of Monsters." Monarch Unlocked features some "top secret" content linked to the Apple TV+ series, including multiple puzzling images of Monarch files and projects. The most intriguing document found on the site is a short video of John Goodman's character William Randa, who first appeared in "Kong: Skull Island" and is set to reprise his role in "Legacy."

"Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" is the first MonsterVerse project to directly hit streaming television, but the franchise has expanded into other mediums before. There have been video games, novelizations, and most poignantly, multiple comic book titles. The graphic novel "Godzilla: Awakening" and the miniseries "Skull Island: The Birth of Kong" each served as prequels to the MonsterVerse films of their respective titans. Meanwhile, comics such as "Kingdom Kong" and "Godzilla: Aftershock" have also expanded the lore. Aside from featuring your favorite giant monsters, those that have scanned the panels of the comic titles know they also explore Monarch's history.

With famed comic scribe Matt Fraction adding his writing skills to the upcoming Apple TV+ series, many have been curious if the literary projects would have a connection to "Legacy of Monsters." Sadly, that does not appear to be the case. "I think we were more concerned about building and working within the mythology that's been established by Legendary," confirmed Matt Shakman during an interview with Collider. "So where it has diverged from comics, we have probably diverged as well, but we were very careful about mythology." Still, there may be hope for the comic enthusiasts, as Shakman revealed, "There's a whole department at Legendary that handles this and that looks very carefully at that."

Godzilla has a devoted fan base. While not in the same stratosphere as other fandoms like Marvel or Star Wars, the following for the big lizard can be extremely particular. With a rich history of content dating back nearly 80 years, there have been a plethora of unique designs of Godzilla. Nearly every iteration of the titan has come with subtle changes to the way the lizard looks. Whether the project is made in North America or international markets plays a significant role in how Godzilla appears on screen. Overall, there have been dozens of unique models of the beloved beast. 

"Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" will utilize the "GareGoji" design for its monster – also known as the LegendaryGoji – originally introduced in 2014's "Godzilla." The Hollywood version of Godzilla takes many of its features from dinosaurs, giving the titan a relatively realistic presence. Interestingly, there is a significant process behind getting Godzilla to look right on screen. "I thought it was going to be an easy job, but they did over 100 designs," said "Godzilla" director Gareth Edwards at SXSW in 2014. "We kept trying generation after generation until we landed where we did." He explained, "You're trying to put out wacky thoughts and ideas and even if you throw out just 1% of a new direction that steers the design in a new way, it helps out."

If Godzilla is not enough to get you breathing fire in excitement for "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," there have been hints as to other kaiju that make an appearance in the series. Legendary's MonsterVerse has been known to revitalize classic Toho monsters, bringing beasts like Mothra, Rodan, and MechGodzilla to the big screen. Still, there is a whole collection of titans yet to make an appearance in the cinematic universe.

"Monarch" director Matt Shakman has already revealed that many MUTOs will appear in the show beyond the king lizard. "We were creating a lot of cool titans and monsters, some new, some old," he told ComicBook.com. Meanwhile, the trailer and promotion for the series have revealed a few of the beasts to expect. The Apple TV+ social media account revealed one unidentified flying monster. Additionally, Matt Fraction and Chris Black spoke to Entertainment Weekly about a few other monsters crashing into the first episode, including a nightmare-inducing giant spider known as Mother Longlegs, and a creature described as "a giant titan version of a crab" called Mantleclaw. Finally, they had one more trick up their sleeves with all-new insect-like MUTOs. "It was fun to remind the audience that not all Titans are 400 feet tall," Fraction said. "There's danger everywhere of all kinds of scale and size." As for Godzilla's biggest competition, fans will have to wait and see if Kong bangs his chest for the Apple TV+ series.

If you have devoured the four available MonsterVerse films over and over in anticipation of "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," there are plenty of other projects that are worth delving into. With a trove of films dating back to the mid-'50s, you could start from the beginning and work your way through the Godzilla filmography in chronological order.

Of course, not all the titan flicks are as worthy of your time as others — for instance, "Son of Godzilla," which for whatever unfortunate reason is not named "Jesus-Zilla." If you want to avoid sitting through the entire monster-sized film series, there are entire Reddit threads dedicated to picking and choosing the cream of the crop. Meanwhile, some of the best-reviewed editions that should hit your list include the original 1954 "Godzilla," "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah," and "Godzilla Resurgence" (aka "Shin Godzilla"). For an even deeper dive, there are several television shows featuring Big Green, including the 2021 Netflix anime "Godzilla: Singular Point."

With the release of "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" fast approaching, the review embargo has been lifted, resulting in a swarm of third-party opinions on the series. Already, "Legacy" sits at an 89% Rotten Tomatoes critic score. The general consensus is shaping up to indicate that the Apple TV+ show should be worth the price of admission.

However, most of the reviews available online come with a caution sticker for potential viewers. "'Legacy of Monsters' is light on the monsters and heavier on the legacy stuff," said one critic on SlashFilm. Those anticipating lots of titans smashing through buildings and roadways should quell their expectations now. Instead, the series predominantly features the titular government organization and the humans trapped in a world of titanic beasts. Still, with a good mix of pacing, time-jumping, and the odd appearance of the biggest, greenest lizard in pop culture, audiences are certain to get some entertainment.

Sure, with "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" still awaiting official release, it is premature to expect a second season. However, there are some indications that audiences can expect more from the series beyond the 10 episodes of Season 1. With the MonsterVerse continuing its expansion with another upcoming feature film, "Legacy" could stick around to help blend the universe. Additionally, unlike Netflix which has developed a reputation for canceling shows that are popular and relevant, Apple TV+ is less afraid of shelling out the cash for their successful projects to move forward.

Notably, during an interview with Collider, director Matt Shakman revealed that there may be more to the "Legacy of Monsters" than we will see in the inaugural season. "It's when you pitch a show from the beginning. You pitch, 'What's the story of the first episode? What's the story of the first season? And what's the story for the next five years?' That's pretty much expected when you go to pitch a company like Apple," he said. "Of course, things change, right? You have all these plans, and then you realize that this is a more interesting avenue, and things evolve."

Legendary's MonsterVerse may not be saturating the market with multiple projects per year like some cinematic universes that do not need mentioning. Conversely, the franchise is not as dead in the water as other movie universe plans. Surprisingly, the MonsterVerse has already accomplished its original plan, as "Godzilla vs. Kong" director Adam Wingard revealed that his film was the culmination of the cinematic crossover.

Thankfully, like a slow and steady gigantic lizard emerging from the ocean, the MonsterVerse continues to stamp ahead since its 2014 inception. "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" set for a 2024 premiere, will be the next official feature film from the franchise and will conceptually work as a sequel to 2021's "Godzilla vs. Kong." Subsequently, other projects have been rumored to be shopped around behind closed doors at Legendary, including a potential "Son of Kong" film. Still, with fans fully behind the franchise building further, it likely won't be long before the Titans are unleashed beyond 2024.