We know from the movies thus far in the Monsterverse that Monarch, the organization which investigates the various titans on (and in) the Earth, has been around for a good long while. At least as far back as the 1970s, as we learned in Kong: Skull Island. And while the subsequent movies have focused on Monarch’s activities now, the new Apple TV+ series, officially called Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, will give us some backstory. And some frontstory. Plus, in case you were worried, some first-look images from Monarch: Legacy of Monsters reveal Godzilla himself will roar in the show. Take a look!
In a recent release, Apple TV+ confirmed that the title of their Monsterverse series would be Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. The official plot synopsis for the series is as follows:
Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters tracks 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 (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows. The dramatic saga—spanning three generations—reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.
Yes, you read that correctly. In the Monarch series, Kurt Russell will play the character of Shaw in modern day, while his son Wyatt will play Shaw in the ’50s. That conceit alone is worth a watch, we’d say. Other members of the cast include Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, and Elisa Lasowski… And, of course, Godzilla, who is ready to show his teeth in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
This Monsterverse series will consist of 10 episodes. It is co-developed by Chris Black (Severance, Star Trek: Enterprise, Outcast) and Matt Fraction (Hawkeye). Matt Shakman (Wandavision) directs the first two episodes.
Hailing from Legendary Television, the Godzilla and Titans live-action series is executive produced by Black, Fraction and Shakman alongside Joby Harold (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Tory Tunnell from Safehouse Pictures, Andy Goddard (Carnival Row, Downton Abbey), Brad Van Arragon (Yellowjackets, Carnival Row), and Andrew Colville (Severance, Star Trek: Discovery). Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita executive produce on behalf of Toho Co., Ltd., the owner of the Godzilla character.
While we don’t know yet when Monarch: Legacy of Monsters will release, this fall is looking pretty good. So get ready for a decade-spanning Monarch mystery, with the King of the Monsters in tow.
Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.