Godzilla and Kong aren’t afraid of anything, especially not “no ghosts.” Warner Bros. Discovery must not be either because they seemingly said to themselves, “The heck with breathing room,” and moved the release of the next much-awaited MonsterVerse installment up.
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Instead of April 12, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is now coming out on March 29 according to The Hollywood Reporter. If you have been paying attention then you can surmise that puts the film right in the crosshairs of a proton pack. GxK shall now debut against the Spengler family and the remaining Ghostbusters’ new adventure, Frozen Empire, which comes out a week prior on March 22.
Returning to New York with the new recruits from Oklahoma, they unleash another ancient evil that will bring about a new ice age if it isn’t stopped. That’s a rather gigantic coincidence when Kong and Godzilla also team up again to battle an ancient monster that could cause a second ice age.
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This maneuver is a puzzling one by Warner Bros., and it raises a few questions. First and foremost among them, why would they do it? A cynic would say they want to sink the film and be done with the MV like they are with the Snyderverse.
But the optimist in those who are excited for GxK has reason to think WB believes in this sequel more than ever; so much so, that they are willing to pit the might of the Titans against one of Sony’s most popular franchises.
It might be premature to give them credit, but WB might be onto something. Afterlife was a return to form for Ghostbuster diehards, but it still grossed only half of Godzilla vs. Kong’s worldwide haul , roughly, after both were finally released 2021 after multiple delays.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife made $204.4 million worldwide, says Box Office Mojo, while GVK – which was burdened by a day-and-date HBO Max release in the States – garnered a global tally of $470.1 million. As different as the budgets and marketing were, the numbers are ignominious for the Spenglers at a glance.
Godzilla and Kong could very well crush the busters at the box office, and succeed where the Stay Puft Man failed, but this contest is too early to call. Sony should be more worried about how Madame Web performs when it hits theaters before March rolls around.