The MonsterVerse expands on , with the release of the second season of Apple TV’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. The new season promises a significant escalation of the threat level, introducing a colossal undersea Titan dubbed Titan X, and forcing a reluctant alliance between Godzilla and Kong. The full trailer, released today, , offers the first substantial look at this new antagonist.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters builds upon the foundation laid by Legendary Entertainment’s MonsterVerse films, which began with the 2014 Godzilla and continued with films featuring King Kong and other kaiju – a Japanese term for giant monsters – originally created by Toho Co., Ltd. The series picks up the narrative threads from the 2014 film, specifically focusing on the clandestine organization known as Project Monarch. Established in the 1950s, Project Monarch was initially tasked with studying Godzilla and other massive creatures after failed attempts to neutralize Godzilla with nuclear weaponry.
Season one concluded with Godzilla defeating an Ion Dragon and seemingly the sacrifice of Lee Shaw (Kurt Russell) to protect his team. Season two’s premise, as outlined by Apple TV, centers on the precarious fate of Monarch and, by extension, the world. The narrative will explore buried secrets, reuniting both heroes and villains on Kong’s Skull Island, and introducing a mysterious village where Titan X emerges from the depths. The season’s storyline emphasizes the consequences of past actions and the blurring lines between allies and enemies, all set against the backdrop of an impending “titan event.”
Titan X: A Living Cataclysm
The trailer reveals Titan X as a truly massive creature, even larger than both Godzilla and Kong. Its primary habitat appears to be the ocean, and its design incorporates prominent tentacles and horns, including a pair on its snout. While the trailer doesn’t fully reveal the creature’s form, it establishes Titan X as a significant threat, described by Apple as “a living cataclysm.”
Speculation regarding Titan X’s identity has already begun, with many fans drawing parallels to Monster X, also known as King Ghidorah. King Ghidorah is a recurring antagonist in the Godzilla franchise, having appeared in both Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Godzilla vs. Kong within the MonsterVerse. The trailer’s depiction of Titan X, with its horns and potential for a bifurcated tail (as seen in the form of Keizer Ghidorah in Godzilla Final Wars), fuels this speculation.
Returning and New Faces
The second season will see the return of several key cast members, including Kurt Russell and his son, Wyatt Russell, portraying the older and younger versions of Lee Shaw, respectively. Anna Sawai will reprise her role as Cate Randa, and Kiersey Clemons will return as May Olowe-Hewitt. Other returning cast members include Ren Watabe as Kentaro Randa, Joe Tippett as Tim, Elisa Lasowski as Duvall, and Anders Holm as the younger Bill Randa.
Joining the cast as guest stars are Takehiro Hira, Amber Midthunder, Curtiss Cook, Cliff Curtis, Dominique Tipper, and Camilo Jiménez Varón. Their roles within the unfolding narrative remain undisclosed.
A Necessary Alliance
The trailer highlights a pivotal moment where Lee Shaw recognizes the scale of the threat posed by Titan X. He concludes that defeating such a powerful creature will require an unprecedented alliance: “We need Kong. And Godzilla.” This sets the stage for a climactic battle between Titan X and the combined forces of the two alpha Titans.
The series’ narrative continues to explore the ramifications of opening rifts to the Hollow Earth, a subterranean world populated by Titans. Cate Randa’s reflection on “letting the genie out of the bottle” underscores the unintended consequences of Monarch’s actions and the escalating danger facing humanity. The season promises to delve deeper into the buried secrets of the organization and the complex relationships between its members, all while navigating the looming threat of Titan X.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 will debut on Apple TV with its first episode on , followed by weekly releases every Friday through May 1, 2026.
