.@Legendary confirmed: feature film based on the famed Skull Island, the cinematic origins of another classic beast King Kong #LegendarySDCC
— Legendary (@Legendary) July 26, 2014
Prepare to explore the mysterious and dangerous Skull Island. In theaters November 4, 2016. #LegendarySDCC #SDCC
— Legendary (@Legendary) July 26, 2014
In a press release following the panel, Legendary elaborated on the feature, which does not yet have a director attached:
Previous works have touched on the island, but staying and exploring this mysterious and dangerous place offers Legendary the opportunity to take audiences deeper inside this rich world with a style and scope that parallels other Legendary productions. The film will be released on November 4, 2016.
The company screened a short teaser for the Skull Island movie during the panel:
The SKULL ISLAND teaser unfolds with footage of raining island, and then a shot of, yup, King Kong beating his chest. #SDCC #Legendary
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) July 26, 2014
But most journalists in attendance took the announcement as a sign of one thing: an eventual movie featuring a battle between King Kong and Godzilla. (Legendary is also the production company in charge of Godzilla's big-screen fortunes.)
Legendary doing SKULL ISLAND. You know this will lead into a KONG vs. GODZILLA throw down, right?
— Ryan Turek (@_RyanTurek) July 26, 2014
WTF, Legendary is doing their own King Kong movie called Skull Island? Does that mean we'll see Kong in Godzilla 3?
— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) July 26, 2014
Seeing a SKULL ISLAND movie coming, you have to wonder if Legendary will eventually do a King Kong/Godzilla mashup. Maybe? #SDCC
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) July 26, 2014
Legendary's "Godzilla" sequel will arrive in theaters after director Gareth Edwards finishes work on his "Star Wars" spinoff.
Gareth Edwards confirms he will be back to direct Godzilla 2! #LegendarySDCC #SDCC
— Legendary (@Legendary) July 26, 2014King Kong, meanwhile, last appeared onscreen in 2005's "King Kong," which was directed by Peter Jackson.