Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a must-see for fans of monster movies, featuring a number of your favorite kaiju—in addition to the titular big guy, it also has Ghidorah, Mothra, Rodan—and big-screen spectacle you won’t soon forget. If you’re a fan of bold action, great monster effects, and tantalizing questions about the nature of existence and the importance of balance-evoking titans, this is the movie for you.
But what was it like to actually film Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and how does it fit into the new world of titan movies in the Godzilla franchise? We sent our ace reporter Hector Navarro to a recent press day for the film to hear first-hand from the creators and cast what it was like working on this entry and what it means for future installments.
Cast members like Vera Farmiga, Kyle Chandler, O’Shea Jackson, and Millie Bobby Brown all weighed in on what it meant to them personally to appear in a big-budget Godzilla movie.
“It’s an honor,” said Chandler. “Our kids and grandkids are gonna see it, and their kids after that.”
“Personally, I’ve always been a fan of this franchise. To be able to be a part of it is something that nobody will be able to take away from me,” said Jackson. “You can try all you want but I’ll forever be on the top of that poster.”
Michael Dougherty, the film’s director, also spoke to the insane pressure that comes with being handed a franchise like this, and how much of a follow-up it is to Gareth Edwards‘ 2014 Godzilla. Dougherty said he appreciated Edwards’ sense of scale and the “terrifying beauty” that he brought to his own film, but that it was important to him to build on that legacy.
You can decide for yourself if Godzilla: King of the Monsters lives up to the hype when it opens in theaters this Friday, May 31.
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Images: Legendary Pictures