‘Last of Us’ Star Kaitlyn Dever Will Join the ‘Godzilla x Kong’ Sequel

The next entry in the MonsterVerse continues the franchise tradition of getting talented actors who one wouldn’t think of joining a big kaiju franchise where a giant gorilla punches a giant lizard. While the main draw of the MonsterVerse films has been Godzilla, Kong, and other titans, the franchise has also included an incredible lineup of talent, including Bryan Cranston, Brie Larson, and Samuel L. Jackson. For the upcoming follow-up to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, The Last of Us season 2 star Kaitlyn Dever is joining the franchise.

Deadline reports that Dever is in talks to play the lead in the untitled sequel to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. She is best known for her role in 2019’s Booksmart and has starred in movies like Rosaline, No One Will Save You, and Ticket to Paradise. She will next be seen in The Last of Us Season 2, playing the character of Abby Mills, a controversial character from the games.

Details on Dever’s character are being kept under wraps, as is the upcoming plot of the Godzilla / King Kong team-up. She confirmed her involvement with the film by sharing the initial Deadline article on her Instagram.

The Godzilla x Kong sequel is set to be directed by Grant Sputore (I Am Mother), stepping in for Adam Wingard, who directed the previous two MonsterVerse films with Godzilla and King Kong. Currently, no other cast members have been confirmed for the movie, leaving the fate of Rebecca Hall’s Dr. Ilene Andrews, Brian Tyree Henry’s Bernie Hayes, Dan Stevens Trapper, and Kaylee Hottle as Jia up in the air. Legendary Pictures has a Mar. 26, 2027 release date saved for an Untitled MonsterVerse movie that seemingly will be occupied by the Dever-led MonsterVerse movie.

MonsterVerse is Alive and Well

Dever has emerged as one of the best actresses in recent years. She has been nominated for two Golden Globes, one for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film for Unbelievable in 2020 and then in 2022 for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film for Dopesick. Her performance in No One Will Save You earned her a Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television nomination from the Critics’ Choice Television Awards.

She brings a lot of pedigree to the MonsterVerse and shows that despite the franchise being centered on giant monsters, the producers and director are still looking to cast great actors to give the human characters a sense of gravitas.

Dever is joining the MonsterVerse at a high point. In 2019, following the box office failure of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, it seemed like the franchise was over before it began. Yet the MonsterVerse was one of the franchises that not only survived the COVID-19 pandemic, but seemingly got a boost as Godzilla vs. Kong became an early event movie for audiences looking to return to theaters.

Now, with the critically acclaimed AppleTV+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters set to return for Season 2 and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire becoming the highest-grossing film in the franchise with $571.8 million worldwide, there looks to be many more monster showdowns in store.