Kaiju Universe

The **DaikaijuVerse** (大怪獣宇宙 *Daikaijū uchū*) is an American multimedia franchise and shared universe that is centered on a series of science fiction monster films based on the *Godzilla* and *King Kong* franchises owned by Toho Co., Ltd. and Universal Pictures respectively. The films are independently produced by The Daikaiju Film Company and distributed by Paramount+ in the United States, Toho Co., Ltd. in Japan and Paramount Pictures internationally. It is the third adaptation of Godzilla by a Hollywood studio, following TriStar Pictures' *GODZILLA* in 1998 and Legendary Pictures's MonsterVerse, which ran from 2014 until 2021. Raydon Entertainment acquired the rights to produce an American Godzilla film in October 2021 after being approached by Toho producers. Toho demanded the new series could not focus on Godzilla for the first film and it had to be redesigned to distinguish from Legendary's design.

The Kaiju Universe will begin in 2023 with the release of *Mothra, Goddess of Infant Island* and *Rodan, the Fire Demon*.

## Development

By 2012, Raydon Entertainment had begun planning to produce a film based on the *Godzilla* franchise through a newly founded non-profit fan film division called FANtastic Pictures (the precursor to Fanatic Films). Teaser posters were released on February 17, 2013 and March 20, 2013 that revealed the title as *The Secret Origin of Godzilla*, with an unspecified 2013 release date for the film. In September 2013, Raydon Entertainment announced a new release window of summer 2014 and revealed the third teaser poster which featured the first glimpse of Godzilla and teased the appearance of an original wolf-like monster.

Sometime between October 2013 and March 2014, Toho Co., Ltd. contacted Raydon Entertainment and issued a cease-and-desist on the film project, citing copyright infringement and likely confusion with the then-upcoming *Godzilla* reboot from Legendary Entertainment. After a number of meetings between Toho and Raydon, an agreement was made that would allow *The Secret Origin of Godzilla* to be released as a graphic novel rather than a feature film. The publishing agreement was only for the one graphic novel and did not cover any sequels. The novel was eventually released in 2015 to a lukewarm reception.

After the box office disappointment of Legendary's *Godzilla: King of the Monsters*, Toho producers approached Raydon Entertainment about the prospect of making an officially licensed Godzilla film after the release of *Godzilla vs. Kong*. Negotiations stalled due to the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, but by October 2021, both parties announced an agreement had been reached that would give Raydon Entertainment film rights to Godzilla and certain ancillary characters from the existing franchise. The first film, announced as *Mothra!,* was scheduled to be released in May 2022 before being shifted to November. Raydon Entertainment successfully negotiated the rights to Godzilla for a trilogy and certain crossover appearances. They also acquired the rights to Mothra for a trilogy, and the rights to characters such as King Ghidorah, Rodan, Baragon and Anguirus. Raydon revealed that Toho offered them the entirety of their character library at a significant discount.

The official announcement of the cinematic universe occurred on November 3, 2021 (the 67th anniversary of the release of the original *Godzilla* film) when the initial slate of four films (*Mothra!, Rodan, Ghidorah: Planet Destroyer and Godzilla*) was revealed. It will be Raydon Entertainment's second attempt at a cinematic universe since the conclusion of the Cascade Comics Cinematic Universe. The series of films were originally set up at the flagship Raydon Studios before being shifted to a newly formed division called the Daikaiju Film Company.

## Films

### *Mothra, Goddess of Infant Island* (2023)

*Main article: Mothra, Goddess of Infant Island*

Rapid development in Jakarta sends a logging crew to Infant Island where they're quickly introduced to two tiny twins and the island's protector: Mothra. They attempt to kidnap Mothra and use her as a tourist attraction but when a swarm of Kumonga spider monsters attack they must beg the queen's protection.

### *Rodan, the Fire Demon* (2023)

*Main article: Rodan, the Fire Demon*

A mining operation in Chile unknowingly disturbs a colony of Meganulon who swarm the miners and trap them underground. They're eventually rescued by a recently hatched Rodan who begins to feed on the Meganulon and grows in stature. It escapes the mine and wreaks havoc before coming face-to-face with the colony's queen: Megaguirus.

### *Monster Zero* (2024)

*Main article: Monster Zero*

Approximately 5,000 years ago, Mars is a vibrant and lush planet full of life but two rival kingdoms are on the brink of war. The Rolisican Empire and Kingdom of Selgina soon breakout into an all-out war that destroys cities across both nations. The war soon becomes nuclear and repeated nuclear strikes decimate the planet, moving closer and closer towards mutually assured destruction. This attracts the space dragon Ghidorah who lays waste to the planet turning it to a dusty red as the two fractured nations attempt to settle their differences to destroy the monster.

### *Rise of Godzilla* (2024)

*Main article: Rise of Godzilla*

Nuclear testing in the South Pacific awakens two ancient rivals on Lagos Island who appear on a collision course with Japan. The US attempts to cover-up their involvement with the incident as Godzilla emerges from Tokyo Bay and destroys the city before disappearing back in the ocean. He later reappears in Osaka where his final battle with Anguirus takes place.

## Other films in development

Paramount Pictures, Toho Co., Ltd. and Raydon Studios have a variety of kaiju films in varying stages of development:

* ***The Legend of Okinawa***: In June 2022, a film centered around King Caesar was in development, with a script written by John Gatinsand Dan Gilroy. By September 2022, Joe Cornish signed on as director with principle photography scheduled to begin in February or March 2023. The film is scheduled to release on March 22, 2024.
* ***Hedorah vs. Biollante***: In November 2022, a film centered around Hedorah and Biollantewas in development with a script written by Frank Darabont. Chuck Russell signed on later that month as director with principle photography scheduled to begin in late 2023. The film is scheduled to release on May 3, 2024.
* ***King Kong***: In March 2021, a film centered on King Kong was in development and was expected to be the first film released after *Godzilla.* Development on the film stalled as rumors of a new *Son of Kong* film from Legendary but a script was delivered in mid-2022 written by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver. Executive producer Brandon Barker rewrote the script and turned in the draft in December 2022. By June 2023, Rupert Wyatt signed on as director with principle photography scheduled to begin in February or March 2024. The film is scheduled to release on August 9, 2024.
* ***Kat Kong vs. Dogzilla***: In April 2022, a film centered on the children's picture books *Kat Kong* and *Dogzilla* was in development with the books' original author Dav Pilkey writing the script. The animated film will be set in its own continuity as an alternate universe within the larger Kaiju Universe and is being directed by Conrad Vernon and Rob Letterman. The film is slated to be part of Raydon Entertainment's 2024-2025 release slate.
* ***Baragon***: A film centered on Baragon has been in development since the announcement of the Kaiju Universe with the initial plan being a remake of the 1967 film *Frankenstein Conquers the World* partially set in the 19th century and World War II before moving to the 1960s. The untitled film is slated to be part of Raydon Entertainment's 2025-2026 release slate.
* ***Godzilla 2***: Announced in 2021, the untitled sequel to *Rise of Godzilla* is currently in development alongside its original. The script is being written by Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott, who will both return to pen the next film *Godzilla 3* as well. The untitled film is slated to be part of Raydon Entertainment's 2025-2026 release slate.
* ***Godzilla 3***: Announced in 2021, the untitled second sequel to *Rise of Godzilla* is currently in development alongside its predecessors. The script is being written by Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott, who both return from the previous two *Godzilla* films. The untitled film is slated to be part of Raydon Entertainment's 2028-2029 release slate.
* ***Battle for the Peninsula***: In April 2021, a film centered on the South Korean kaiju Yonggary and the North Korean kaiju Pulgasari was in development with the concept being the unification of the Korean peninsula to defeat the two monsters. It will be set in modern times and mark the first time either character have appeared in an American film or a film together. The untitled film is slated to be part of Raydon Entertainment's 2026-2027 release slate.

## Television series

A *Monster Zero* prequel series was announced by Paramount+ on April 18, 2021. It will focus on the history of Mars prior to the events of *Monster Zero*. The series is being developed by *Monster Zero* director Daniel Espinosa with episodes being written by Espinosa as well as Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Vanessa Taylor, Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby. The series is being rushed into development and will begin principle photography in April 2022 when *Monster Zero* wraps and continue to film until June/July 2022. It is expected to begin airing in the spring of 2023 on Paramount+.

*Godzilla vs. the Marvel Cinematic Universe* was announced on April 22, 2021 as an upcoming feature length film before being reworked into a television series for Disney+.

An animated *Mothra, Goddess of Infant Island* prequel series was announced on May 7, 2021. It will focus on the natives of Infant Island and feature Mothra facing off against Dagahra. It was rushed into development and will begin airing March 2022 on Paramount+. The series will be titled *Infant Island* and will loosely adapt the graphic novel of the same name over the course of its six-episode run.

Other series are being considered by Raydon Studios and it is possible that some monsters could headline their own series rather than getting a standalone film. Some of those monsters mentioned by the studio as possibilities include Titanosaurus, Manda, Varan and Megalon as well as a television adaptation of the upcoming film *Kat Kong vs. Dogzilla*.

* *Infant Island* (March 2022)
* untitled *Monster Zero* prequel (Spring 2023)
* *Kat Kong vs Dogzilla: The Series* (2025)
* *Godzilla vs. the Marvel Cinematic Universe* (TBA)

## Other media

In addition to the films, Raydon and Paramount have licensed Kaiju Universe-related media including books and video games.

### Books

* *Infant Island* (2023) - Graphic novel prequel to *Mothra, Goddess of Infant Island* (2022)
* *Cult of Mothra* (2023) - Graphic novel prequel and sequel to *Mothra, Goddess of Infant Island* (2022)
* *Mothra: The Official Movie Novelization* (2023)
* *Mothra, Goddess of Infant Island: Devine Art* (2023) - Concept art and behind-the-scenes companion to *Mothra, Goddess of Infant Island.*
* *Rodan: Hellspawn* - Graphic novel prequel to *Rodan, the Fire Demon* (2023)
* *Rodan, the Fire Demon: The Official Movie Novelization* (2023)
* *The Art and Making of Rodan, the Fire Demon* (2023) - Concept art and behind-the-scenes companion to *Mothra, Goddess of Infant Island.*

### Video games

* *Godzilla: Daikaiju Battle Royale* - Includes the Kaiju Universe Godzilla as a playable character.

## Monsters introduced

* Mothra (*Mothra, Goddess of Infant Island*)
* Kumonga (*Mothra, Goddess of Infant Island*)
* Rodan (*Rodan, the Fire Demon*)
* Meganulon (*Rodan, the Fire Demon*)
* Megaguirus (*Rodan, the Fire Demon*)
* King Ghidorah (*Monster Zero*)
* Gigan (*Monster Zero*)
* Godzilla (*Rise of Godzilla*)
* Anguirus (*Rise of Godzilla*)

## See also

* Showa era
* Heisei era
* Millennium era
* Reiwa era
* MonsterVerse