Godzilla fans have been eating the past several years. Between movies and comic books, Godzilla has only increased in iconography. Films that have brought back the classic Godzilla flare. Whether it’s Shin Godzilla or Godzilla: Minus One bringing the franchise back to its more mature tone or Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire embracing the franchise’s more whimsical side. Godzilla has definitely been getting around more in the public eye. Godzilla has even won an Oscar during this time. Has fought the Avengers, played as a host for a Symbiote, fought Superman, fought the Ninja Turtles and has expanded to a streaming show. But why does he keep sharing the stage among American media? Japanese cinema has brought Godzilla back and put him center stage in Shin Godzilla, Godzilla: Minus One, and the upcoming sequel Godzilla: Minus Zero. But on the American side, he has either been sharing the stage with another iconic giant monster or has been pushed aside fully for the other iconic monster. For being the famous character he is, Godzilla needs to take center stage alone within American media.
Back in 2014, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. took the second American shot in making a Godzilla film. And this attempt was the right one. Director Gareth Edwards honored the franchise’s core elements but added a few new things of his own. The movie did well among critics and well enough among fans. That success prompted a sequel. The movie brought in King Ghidorah, Rodan, Mothra and a handful of original monsters. Godzilla was pit against King Ghidorah in a war for control over the world and the rest of the monsters. Even though it did not strike the same with critics, fans enjoyed it a bit more. Godzilla (2014) and Godzilla: King of the Monsters had Godzilla front and center (even though he did not appear as much in Godzilla (2014)). But nonetheless, Godzilla was the main character. The main protagonist that felt like a protagonist. But after these films, Godzilla started to lose that role. The Apple+ show, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, had Godzilla as a strong, prominent presence but writing on the wall was starting to become clear.
When the big crossover happened – Godzilla vs Kong – it put these two iconic characters on the same screen again. Multiple fights between them were going to settle the debate once and for all. But something was very clear about this movie. Kong seemed to be in most of the run time while Godzilla felt like a supporting role. There was perhaps some reasoning behind this. Godzilla did have two movies going into this one while Kong only had one. So, Kong had to make up some time. Then, although Godzilla wasn’t in the movie as much as Kong, Godzilla’s presence was in every seen. Every action was made because of him. That was the balance.
Everything changed with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Again, Kong was on screen most of the time. It soon became apparent Kong was going to be the main protagonist with no question. Godzilla got reduced from a supporting role to a glorified cameo. His scenes in that film did have a lot of positive conversations among fans but he definitely was pushed aside, even though he is one of the titular characters. It just felt like he was there.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters did help Godzilla out a bit. Out of Kong and Godzilla, it was Godzilla who was given the brighter spotlight. Of established titans in the Monsterverse, Godzilla reaped the benefits…to an extent. His scenes felt a little too short – but that could be due to the limits of a streaming service. The Ion Dragon did get some attention which is understandable since it was the main antagonist of the series. But even though the title made audiences believe the series would be about Monarch fighting and studying monsters, it quickly became a family drama. The main character was going through a trauma which was given more difficulty when family secrets came up. When Godzilla was on screen, he was tied to a love story that took some of his own flare away. The series retreaded a complaint about Godzilla (2014), a focus on human trauma rather than the inclusion of monsters. That meant, once again, Godzilla was sidelined in a project that was pitched as something that will have him at the center. And what adds a bit more insult to his clear absence in the universe, is that Kong has received an animated series set in the universe. Kong has much of the screen time in the previous two films and has his own, dedicated series himself.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season two just dropped its latest season and hints at a larger role for Kong. Kong was reduced to a cameo at the last scene of the last episode but from what the trailer is suggesting, he will be around a lot. And just like Godzilla vs Kong, it is already being set up that Kong will be the main key for victory yet again.
Godzilla is the one that established this universe. He is KING in this universe but as of late he just feels like a guest. The Monsterverse has done a neat job in portraying Godzilla in different lights with each movie; a force of nature, a God, an alpha predator, and an enforcer of natural law. But each outing, he has dropped screen time. Been reduced. To finally put it, he has not been fully utilized of late. Some additional lore may have been disclosed but that shouldn’t justify his lack of appearances, his lack of action. It feels, within the universe he set in motion, Godzilla is an afterthought now. He can’t even compete with Kong for screentime because the balance is way off that caters to Kong. Godzilla has been given to fans in small doses in the last few outings. He can’t even fully become one of those characters in fiction that steal attention from the audiences when they are around and then make audiences twitchy to see them again when they are NOT around. Why? Because when he is around, he doesn’t stay around long enough! It’s repeating another complaint about Godzilla (2014). He didn’t appear a lot in his own movie. Now that is being stretched out over several projects! And there’s no need for it. It’s been proven that Godzilla is a scene stealer and a fan favorite. But he remains in the background.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 and Godzilla x Kong: Supernova could finally turn things around for Godzilla. The main antagonist in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2, Titan X, is aquatic. That’s Godzilla’s domain. It was also revealed that Titan X is seen as a god. That is also a territory that Godzilla is familiar. Any Titan that tries to claim a title like that, Godzilla puts them in their place. So, Godzilla may finally have a deserving role in season 2. And with rumors circulating that Godzilla x Kong: Supernova may include Spacegodzilla, again, Godzilla may have a major role that dwarves Kong’s role. Time will tell but Godzilla definitely needs to get back on a path that is clear from Kong. It would benefit both of them. However, since Godzilla has been reduced lately, he needs to have a boost of existence in this universe that matches his kingly and godly role.
