Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (TV 2023-2024)

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Monsterverse television series
Skull Island
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
None
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Poster for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Air date November 17, 2023 -
January 12, 2024[1]
Directed by Matt Shakman et al.
Producer(s) Chris Black, Matt Fraction, et al.
Written by Chris Black, Matt Fraction, et al.
Music by Leopold Ross
Funded by Legendary Television,
Safehouse Pictures, Toho
Production company Legendary Television
Distributor Warner Bros.
Channel(s) Apple TV+
Rating TV-14
Genre(s) Drama, science fiction, action,[2] adventure[3]
Episodes 10
Rate this series!
3.92
(37 votes)

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— Tagline

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (モナーク:レガシー・オブ・モンスターズ,   Monāku: Regashī obu Monsutāzu) is a 2023 science fiction monster television series developed, co-written, and showran by Chris Black and Matt Fraction. Produced by Legendary Television in collaboration with Safehouse Pictures and Toho, it premiered exclusively on the Apple TV+ streaming service on November 17, 2023 and aired weekly thereafter until January 12, 2024. A second season is in development for a 2024-2025 release,[2] but has yet to be greenlit.[4] The series is the second to be set in the Monsterverse, after Netflix's animated series Skull Island which released earlier in 2023. It stars Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, and father-son duo Kurt and Wyatt Russell.

The series features two parallel storylines. The first, set in 2015 between the events of Godzilla (2014) and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), follows Japanese-American Cate Randa, a survivor of Godzilla's attack on San Francisco, as she searches for answers about her mysterious father and finds herself entangled with the titular organization Monarch in the process. The second is set in the past from the 1950s to '80s, and follows Monarch founders Lee Shaw and Bill and Keiko Randa as they make a series of discoveries about Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms.

Descriptions

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.[5]
After surviving Godzilla’s attack on San Francisco, Cate is shaken yet again by a shocking secret. Amid monstrous threats, she embarks on a globetrotting adventure to learn the truth about her family—and the mysterious organization known as Monarch.[3]

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Air date[3]
1 "Aftermath" Matt Shakman Chris Black November 17, 2023
Cate travels to Japan to get answers about her father and uncovers a shocking secret. Keiko, Lee, and Billy pursue a theory about Titans.
2 "Departure" Matt Shakman Chris Black November 17, 2023
Monarch closes in on Cate, Kentaro, and May as they try to track down a key individual. Keiko, Lee, and Billy stumble on a major find.
3 "Secrets and Lies" Julian Holmes Andrew Colville November 22, 2023
Shaw leads the team on a dangerous mission to Alaska in search of Hiroshi. Keiko, Lee, and Billy present their findings to General Puckett.
4 "Parallels and Interiors" Julian Holmes Milla Bell-Hart December 1, 2023
The team is left stranded in the frozen tundra after a narrow escape. Kentaro reflects on his relationships.
5 "The Way Out" Mairzee Almas Amanda Overton December 8, 2023
Cate's painful memories of G-Day come flooding back as she treks through the ruins of San Francisco with Kentaro and May.
6 "Terrifying Miracles" Mairzee Almas Karl Greenfeld December 15, 2023
Shaw finds an unlikely ally within Monarch as the team has a harrowing run-in. Keiko and Lee grow closer while at a military ball.
7 "Will the Real May Please Stand Up?" Hiromi Kamata Mariko Tamaki December 22, 2023
May finally faces her past. Duvall and Shaw follow traces of Godzilla and Hiroshi.
8 "Birthright" Hiromi Kamata Al Letson December 29, 2023
The team goes back to where things all began to confront Shaw. On the brink of collapse, Monarch takes drastic measures.
9 "Axis Mundi" Andy Goddard Matt Fraction January 5, 2024
Shaw and May search for Cate and make a startling discovery. Kentaro struggles with his loss.
10 "Beyond Logic" Andy Goddard Chris Black January 12, 2024
Season finale. The team struggles to find a way out of Axis Mundi. Kentaro and Tim make an unexpected alliance.

Staff

Staff role on the left, staff member's name on the right.

Cast

Actor's name on the left, character played on the right.

Japanese dub

French dub

  • Geneviève Doang   as   Cate Randa
  • Aurélie Konaté   as   May Olowe-Hewitt
  • Martin Faliu   as   Kentaro Randa
  • Claire Guyot   as   Dr. Keiko Randa
  • Marc Maurille   as   young Bill Randa
  • Thierry Kazazian   as   Tim
  • Mario Bastelica   as   young Lee Shaw

Portuguese dub

  • Tonia Mesquita   as   Cate Randa
  • Maju Helman   as   May Olowe-Hewitt
  • Renan Takenouchi   as   Kentaro Randa
  • Regina Maria Maia   as   Dr. Keiko Randa
  • Philippe Maia   as   young Bill Randa
  • Pedro Azevedo   as   Tim
  • Reginaldo Primo   as   young Lee Shaw

Actor's name on the left, character played on the right.

German dub

  • Friedel Morgenstern   as   Cate Randa
  • Samina König   as   May Olowe-Hewitt
  • Julian Tennstedt   as   Kentaro Randa
  • Lin Gothoni   as   Dr. Keiko Randa
  • Roman Wolko   as   young Bill Randa
  • Ulrich Blöcher   as   Tim
  • Tim Knauer   as   young Lee Shaw

Italian dub

  • Letizia Ciampa   as   Cate Randa
  • Eva Padoan   as   May Olowe-Hewitt
  • Federico Campaiola   as   Kentaro Randa
  • Valentina Mari   as   Dr. Keiko Randa
  • Francesco Venditti   as   young Bill Randa
  • Fabrizio Dolce   as   Tim
  • Stefano Crescentini   as   young Lee Shaw

Castilian Spanish dub

  • Roser Vilches   as   Cate Randa
  • Lara Ullod   as   May Olowe-Hewitt
  • Tito Trifol   as   Kentaro Randa
  • Marta Ullod   as   Dr. Keiko Randa
  • Marc Torrents   as   young Bill Randa
  • Mark Ullod   as   Tim
  • David Brau   as   young Lee Shaw

Latin American Spanish dub

  • Polly Huerta   as   Cate Randa
  • Lilian Vela   as   May Olowe-Hewitt
  • Héctor Ireta De Alba   as   Kentaro Randa
  • Jocelyn Robles   as   Dr. Keiko Randa
  • Geno Sánchez   as   young Bill Randa
  • Manuel Pérez   as   Tim
  • Edson Matus   as   young Lee Shaw

Appearances

Titans and superspecies

Other monsters

Weapons, vehicles, races, and organizations

Development

The series was announced by Apple on January 20, 2022; details included that it would be co-created by Chris Black and Matt Fraction, executive produced by Black, Fraction, Safehouse Pictures, and Toho, and set after the events of 2014's Godzilla.[13]

Four days later on January 24, Charles Murphy of Murphy's Multiverse reported that the series had been given the title "Hourglass" and was scheduled to begin production that May.[14] This proved true with the release of issue 1283 of Production Weekly on January 27, which confirmed its working title as Hourglass as well as its planned production period.[15] The publication also revealed additional producers and Chris Black and Matt Fraction's role as writers, among other staff.[15] Issue 1286 of Production Weekly, released on February 17, confirmed that the series would be shooting in Vancouver, Tokyo, and Hawaii, and gave a new title of "Monarch".[16]

On April 14, issue #1294 of Production Weekly reported Matt Shakman as director.[17] On May 5, issue #1297 reported that Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell were rumored for the roles of "Old Lee Shaw" and "Young Lee Shaw," respectively.[18] Variety reported on May 19 that Shakman would only be directing the series' first two episodes as well as executive producing.[19] Production Weekly dropped the Monarch title with issue #1305 on June 30, instead switching to "Godzilla and the Titans." The same issue reported Anna Sawai, Ren Watabe, Kiersey Clemons, Joe Tippett, and Elisa Lasowski as cast members;[20] Deadline corroborated this the same day, though it maintained that the series was still untitled.[21]

Variety confirmed Kurt and Wyatt Russell's casting on July 20, though their roles were not specified.[22] On August 18, Deadline reported that Mari Yamamoto had also joined the cast.[23] On October 3, Variety announced that Anders Holm had joined.[24]

On November 13, Fraction spoke briefly about the series in a post for his and Kelly Sue DeConnick's subscription newsletter Milkfed Dispatches, revealing the show to be 10 episodes long.[25] Between February 7 and 8 of 2023, Collider and ComicBook.com reported on interviews both had conducted with Shakman. In the former interview, he stated the show to be in post-production and that it would have "some overlap" with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, though "it's not as involved as, say, an MCU kind of Disney+ film crossover. It's less organized than that."[26][27] In the latter, he revealed that the series will involve "a lot of cool Titans and monsters, some new, some old."[28]

On February 23, trademarks were filed for "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" by Legend IP Holdings Production, LLC.[29] The title was announced officially that August 17, along with the series' projected release window.[30]

Production

The series filmed in Vancouver, Tokyo, and Hawaii.[16] A shooting period was initially set for between May 9 and November 16, 2022,[15] with the British Columbia unit to begin on May 26 and conclude on October 18.[18] However, the BC unit's shooting period was later moved back to between July 6 and December 19.[31] The BC unit's wrap date was then moved up to December 14[20] and again to December 9, with shooting finally beginning on June 27.[32] Shooting in Hawaii was set to begin that December.[20]

By January 7, 2023, principal photography on the series had concluded and it had entered post-production.[26]

Marketing

Four stills from the show were released on August 17, 2023, two of which were set during Godzilla's battle with the U.S. military at the Golden Gate Bridge in Godzilla (2014).[30] A short video released on September 7[33] preceded the release of a teaser on September 8, which revealed John Goodman's return to the Monsterverse as Bill Randa and offered glimpses of two new monsters and a Mother Longlegs.

A poster was revealed exclusively on the r/Monsterverse subreddit on October 9.[34] A panel for the show was held at the New York Comic Con, with a screening of the first episode on October 12.[35] The same day, the MonarchSciences Twitter account originally created to promote Kong: Skull Island began tweeting again; however, the account was "taken over" by a mysterious third party.[36] Later the same day, a trailer for the show was released, showcasing several new monsters and characters,[37] and a new viral marketing website named Monarch Unlocked was made available,[38] featuring a video message by Bill Randa and several photos. On October 24, the site was updated with an additional video from Randa titled "Randa_Super8.mp4."[39]

Alternate titles

  • Hourglass (working title)[15]
  • Monarch (proposed title)[16]
  • Godzilla and the Titans (proposed title)[20]

In other languages

Language Name Meaning
Flagicon Japan.png Japanese モナーク:レガシー・オブ・モンスターズ,  
Monāku: Regashī obu Monsutāzu
Transliteration of English title
Chinese Flagicon Hong Kong.png Cantonese 君主組織與神秘巨獸,  
Jūnzhǔ Zǔzhī yǔ Shénmì Jùshòu
The Monarch Organization and the Mysterious Beasts
China and Taiwan Flags.png Mandarin 君主計畫:神祕組織與怪獸之謎,  
Jūnzhǔ Jìhuà: Shénmì Zǔzhī yǔ Guàishòu zhī Mí
Project Monarch: The Puzzle of the Mysterious Organization and Monsters
Flagicon South Korea.png Korean 모나크: 레거시 오브 몬스터즈,  
Monakeu: Legeosi obeu Monseuteojeu
Transliteration of English title
Spanish Flagicon Latin America.png Latin America Monarch: legado de monstruos Translation of English title
Flagicon Spain.png Spain Monarch: el legado de los monstruos Monarch: The Legacy of the Monsters

Gallery

Main article: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters/Gallery.

Videos

Main article: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters/Videos.

Trivia

  • Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the first Godzilla television series which does not feature Godzilla's name in its title.
  • This is the first live-action Godzilla television series in over two decades, following Godzilla TV (1999-2000). Godziban (2019-2023), while live action, is not televised.
  • Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the first TV show to directly tie into a Godzilla film continuity since Godzilla: The Series, and the first of them to be live action since Zone Fighter (1973). However, it is not the first TV show to tie into the Monsterverse continuity, as Netflix's animated series Skull Island was released four months prior.
  • Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the first major installment in the Monsterverse to feature Godzilla's GareGoji design outside of stock footage since Godzilla (2014). It appears in flashbacks to 2014 and earlier.
  • The character of Lee Shaw first appeared in the 2014 Monsterverse graphic novel Godzilla: Awakening, though his first name was not given.[40]
  • Ruins of Salesforce Tower can be seen in flashbacks to San Francisco in 2014. However, in real life, the tower wasn't completed until 2018.
    • The Bay Bridge is also shown destroyed in flashbacks, although it can be seen intact in Godzilla (2014) as Godzilla returns to the ocean.
  • While most episodes of the series have been or will be released on Fridays, the third episode was released on a Wednesday, likely due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
  • The Apple TV+ Press listing for the series erroneously list the show's TV rating as TV-Y.[41]
  • Characters in the series refer to the day in which Godzilla battled the MUTOs in San Francisco as "G-Day." In Legendary Pictures' other giant monster franchise, Pacific Rim, K-DAY is the term used for the day the first Kaiju, Trespasser, made landfall. Both of these monster attacks resulted in the destruction of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • The show's Japanese dub and captions translate Titan as "kaiju", keeping consistent with the Japanese versions of Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
  • Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the first piece of live-action Godzilla media to feature LGBTQ+ characters.

External links

References

This is a list of references for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]

  1. Scorziello, Sophie (8 September 2023). "Godzilla and Kurt Russell Face Off in 'Monarch: Legacy of Monsters' Trailer, Apple TV+ Sets November Premiere". Variety.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters". Apple TV+. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  4. Knight, Rosie (5 January 2024). "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Co-Creator Talks That Massive Character Return, New Monster, and New Location". IGN.
  5. "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters". Apple TV+ Press. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Apple TV (3 November 2023). "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters — An Inside Look | Apple TV+". YouTube.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Dunn, Billie Schwab (November 17, 2023). "Exclusive 'Monarch: Legacy of Monsters' Finally Solves Godzilla Mystery". Newsweek.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Collis, Clark (3 November 2023). "Tremble before this first look at the Titans from Monarch: Legacy of Monsters". Entertainment Weekly.
  9. Apple TV (December 29, 2023). "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters — Titan Sightings: Ep. 8 Endopede". YouTube.
  10. Rumer, Anna (21 November 2023). "'Monarch: Legacy of Monsters': Get an Insider First Look at the Frost Vark Titan in Exclusive Sneak Peek". PopCulture.com.
  11. Apple TV (5 January 2024). "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters — Titan Sightings: Ep. 9 Brambleboar | Apple TV+". YouTube.
  12. Lindberg, Karl (January 8, 2024). "Monarch - Legacy of Monsters 2023 (Apple +)". ArtStation.
  13. Kroll, Justin (20 January 2022). "Apple TV+ Lands Godzilla & Titans Series Based On Legendary's Monsterverse". Deadline.
  14. Murphy, Charles (24 January 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: Details on Apple TV's 'Godzilla' Spinoff". Murphy's Multiverse.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Production Weekly 2022c, p. 35
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 Production Weekly 2022a, p. 26
  17. Production Weekly 2022d, p. 22
  18. 18.0 18.1 Production Weekly 2022b, p. 21
  19. Otterson, Joe (20 May 2022). "Godzilla and the Titans Live-Action Series at Apple Sets 'WandaVision's' Matt Shakman to Direct (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Production Weekly 2022e, p. 14
  21. Cordero, Rosy (30 June 2022). "Anna Sawai, Joe Tippett & Kiersey Clemons Among Cast Of Apple's Live-Action Godzilla and Titans Series". Deadline.
  22. Otterson, Joe (20 July 2022). "Godzilla and the Titans Live-Action Apple Series Casts Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell". Variety.
  23. Cordero, Rosy (18 August 2022). "'Pachinko' Star Mari Yamamoto Boards Apple Series Based On Legendary's Monsterverse Franchise". Deadline.
  24. Otterson, Joe (3 October 2022). "Apple's Godzilla and the Titans Live-Action Series Casts Anders Holm (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  25. Fraction, Matt (13 November 2022). "it's showtime folks". Milkfed Dispatches.
  26. 26.0 26.1 O'Rourke, Ryan (8 February 2023). "Matt Shakman Talks 'Godzilla' Series Timeline and How It'll Fit Into the Movie Monster Franchise". Collider.
  27. Collider Interviews (8 February 2023). "Godzilla Series Place in the Monster Movie Franchise Revealed by Director Matt Shakman". YouTube.
  28. Perry, Spencer (7 February 2023). "Godzilla and the Titans Director Teases "New and Old" Kaiju for Apple TV+ Series". ComicBook.com.
  29. "MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS". USPTO.report. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  30. 30.0 30.1 "Apple TV+ Reveals First 'Monarch: Legacy of Monsters' Images". Godzilla.com. 17 August 2023.
  31. Production Weekly 2022f, p. 21.
  32. Production Weekly 2022g, p. 11.
  33. @AppleTV (7 September 2023). "Downloading… Estimated time remaining: 11h 59m". X.
  34. derekpmilly (9 October 2023). "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters — Official Poster | Apple TV+". Reddit.
  35. Tapp, Tom (15 September 2023). "Apple TV+ Unveils New York Comic Con Lineup". Deadline.
  36. @MonarchSciences. "[MONARCH]". X. Retrieved 12 October 2023. This account no longer belongs to Monarch. It belongs to the truth. Soon, the rest will surface. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters premieres November 17 on Apple TV+
  37. Apple TV (9 October 2023). "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters — Official Trailer | Apple TV+". YouTube.
  38. "Monarch Unlocked". 9 October 2023.
  39. @MonarchSciences (24 October 2023). "Newly unearthed footage from Bill Randa. #MonarchUnlocked". X.
  40. legendarycomics (17 November 2023). "Lee Shaw first appeared in the graphic novel #GODZILLA AWAKENING in 2014 and now he's back in #MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS. Read more about Shaw in LEGENDS OF THE #MONSTERVERSE at the link in bio!". Instagram.
  41. "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters". Apple TV+ Press. Retrieved 1 December 2023.

Bibliography

  • ""MONARCH" (w/t "HOURGLASS") Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1286. Production Weekly. 17 February 2022.
  • ""MONARCH" (w/t "HOURGLASS") Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1287. Production Weekly. 24 February 2022.
  • ""UNTITLED GODZILLA AND TITANS PROJECT" (w/t "HOURGLASS") Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1283. Production Weekly. 27 January 2022.
  • ""MONARCH" Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1294. Production Weekly. 14 April 2022.
  • ""GODZILLA AND THE TITANS" Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1305. Production Weekly. 30 June 2022.
  • ""MONARCH" Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1289. Production Weekly. 10 March 2022.
  • ""GODZILLA AND THE TITANS" Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1306. Production Weekly. 7 July 2022.

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