The Monsterverse Just Brought Back The Silliest Part Of King Kong’s Original Fight With Godzilla

The second Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire trailer proves the Monsterverse is bringing back the silliest part of the original King Kong-Godzilla crossover. 62 years after the King of the Monsters and the King of Skull Island came to blows in King Kong vs. Godzilla, the two monsters are set for their third live-action pairing. But unlike their last two live-action outings together, the Godzilla vs. Kong sequel will be a proper team-up movie.

As a result, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is poised to deliver a brand-new Godzilla-Kong dynamic. That’ll put it in contrast to the 2021 movie, which was more of a new interpretation of their original fight. That said, it appears that while the Monsterverse has indeed moved on from its retelling of the 1962 Toho classic, it’ll be drawing upon an important element of the film that was once thought to be in the distant past.

Monsterverse’s B.E.A.S.T. Glove Honors Kong’s Classic Powers

The B.E.A.S.T. Glove’s powers are likely inspired by Kong’s first victory over Godzilla

As the first Godzilla x Kong trailer confirmed, Kong is on the cusp of receiving a new Monsterverse weapon in the form of an armored gauntlet. Merchandise tied to the movie has dubbed it the B.E.A.S.T Glove. In the second Godzilla x Kong trailer, it’s revealed that the B.E.A.S.T Glove possesses an ability that allows Kong to unleash energy-powered punches. What makes this so interesting is that Kong boasted a similar power in King Kong vs. Godzilla; at the end of the movie, he was able to emit electricity from his fingertips.

In a sense, the B.E.A.S.T. Glove is shaping up to be a reinvention of Kong’s powers from King Kong vs. Godzilla. In the classic movie, Kong was supercharged by a bolt of lightning, which not only gave him his second wind when he desperately needed it but also enabled him to somehow discharge that electrical energy through his fists. Marketing for Godzilla x Kong indicates that the Monsterverse has found a way to give Kong a similar capability, albeit one with a technological origin.

King Kong’s Electrical Powers Make More Sense In The Monsterverse

They didn’t make sense in King Kong vs. Godzilla

Considering that King Kong’s electrical abilities came across as something out of left field in 1962, the decision to use it in Godzilla x Kong comes with risks. But the way in which it’s being utilized goes to show that the Monsterverse has fixed what made the power so ridiculous in King Kong vs. Godzilla. In the movie, there was no basis for Kong to possess such a power. There was nothing established about his biology that justified the sudden emergence of electrical powers. Given that this plot device was ultimately his trump card against Godzilla, it was deserving of some sort of setup or explanation.

Kong abruptly hitting Godzilla or the Monsterverse’s Skar King with lightning punches would run into the same issue in Legendary’s movies. But via the B.E.A.S.T Glove, Godzilla x Kong can give him this power and avoid the silly nature of it at the same time. If it’s powered by the hidden Hollow Earth energy source, which looks likely based on its blue color, Kong can use charged-up punches in a way that makes some degree of sense and builds on existing elements of its world at the same time.

Does Kong Having His Original Powers Mean He Can Beat Godzilla Now?

Having electrical powers allowed him to beat Godzilla in 1962

In King Kong vs. Godzilla, Kong’s electrical powers were the difference-maker in his final fight with Godzilla, thus raising questions about what having a technological version of them would mean for his Monsterverse counterpart. If it’s true that they’d give him the advantage he’d need to beat Godzilla, the movie will have a chance to prove that one way or the other when Godzilla and Kong have their teased rematch in Egypt. But while Kong’s new weapon may give him a tool in his arsenal Godzilla may not see coming, the King of the Monsters should still be a heavy favorite to win.

Godzilla’s victory in Godzilla vs. Kong was so decisive that it would likely take a power-up of massive proportions to produce a different outcome. And even if the B.E.A.S.T. Glove does prove to be an upgrade over the axe, it being enough to push him beyond Godzilla’s power level is hard to imagine. After all, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Godzilla will be getting a power-up of his own in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. The second trailer confirms he’ll have his new pink form when he crosses paths with Kong in Egypt.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

After nearly destroying each other in 2020’s Godzilla vs. Kong, the giant Titans are back to face a new dangerous threat, but this time, they are on the same side. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is the fifth film in Warner Bros.’ growing Monsterverse franchise and will be directed by Adam Wingard.

Release Date

March 29, 2024