The film is a reboot of the King Kong franchise and will serve as the second film in Legendary’s MonsterVerse, as well as a prequel to the 2014 film Godzilla. It stars an ensemble cast consisting of Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, Jing Tian, Toby Kebbell, John Ortiz, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Shea Whigham, Thomas Mann, Terry Notary and John C. Reilly.
Principal photography began on October 19, 2015, in Hawaii. Kong: Skull Island premiered on Feburary 28, 2017, in London and is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 10, 2017, in 2D, 3D, IMAX 3D and in Dolby Cinemas.
- Sets were built at Kualoa Ranch, Hawaii, near the same filming locations as Jurassic World (2015).
- Michael Keaton and J.K. Simmons were originally attached to the film, but both had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. John C. Reilly took over Keaton’s role while Samuel L. Jackson replaced Simmons.
- Considered to have the largest American adaption of King Kong on screen, standing nearly 328 feet (100 meters) tall, while Peter Jackson’s Kong was only 82 feet (25 meters) tall. In the two Japanese movies, in which King Kong appeared, he stood approximately 150 feet (45 meters) tall.
- The second installment of the MonsterVerse.
- The film takes place in 1971.
- King Kong (1976) was also filmed in Hawaii.
- Kong’s design is inspired by a combination of King Kong (1933) and the Japanese adaptation in the 1960s. This allows the creative team to both utilize a look similar to the classic Kong, while drawing upon the exaggerated “kaiju” aspects, and powers, displayed by the Japanese adaptation, such as greatly exaggerated height, build, strength, and supernatural abilities. This will allow a more “even” confrontation with Godzilla, in the upcoming “King Kong vs Godzilla” film planned for 2019.
- Kong, in this film, is based on the appearance of his 1933 counterpart.
- The poster for the IMAX release of “Kong: Skull Island” is an homage to the iconic poster for Apocalypse Now (1979).
- The production was on location January 2016 at the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. On January 15, 2016, filming was on location at Mt. Tamborine, in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Local newspaper The Gold Coast Bulletin ran headline front page stories about the film’s production on January 12, and January 14, 2016.
- Terry Notary who plays Kong in this movie, worked with Andy Serkis in Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011) and Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014). Serkis played Kong in King Kong (2005).
- This film features three actors and one actress who have appeared, or will appear, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Samuel L. Jackson played S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury, Tom Hiddleston played Loki, John C. Reilly as Nova Corps Officer Rhomann Dey, and Brie Larson, who will play the title character in Captain Marvel (2019).
- This will be the the first out of two movies that actor and stuntman Terry Notary will be motion-capturing an ape. His second film will be War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), where he plays the ape “Rocket”.
- Russell Crowe was considered for a role.
- Joe Cornish was offered the chance to direct, but declined.
- This is the second King Kong film, in which characters such as Ann Darrow, Carl Denham, and Jack Driscoll do not appear. It is also the second film that is different from the 1933 version in terms of the plot. The first being the 1976 version.
- The outfit worn by John Goodman, replicates the outfit worn by Robert Armstrong as Carl Denham in King Kong (1933).
- Kong: Skull Island (2017) reunites actors Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell, who portrayed Dr. Dre and Eazy-E, respectively, in Straight Outta Compton (2015).
- Samuel L. Jackson and John Goodman appeared in Sea of Love (1989). Brie Larson and John Goodman appeared in The Gambler (2014). Tom Hiddleston and Samuel L. Jackson appeared in The Avengers (2012).
- This King Kong film will be released 12 years after Peter Jackson’s “King Kong” (2005) and 84 years after the original black and white version from 1933
- The film’s cast includes one Oscar winner: Brie Larson, and two Oscar nominees: Samuel L. Jackson and John C. Reilly.
- John C. Reilly played Steve Brule in Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007), in which his character’s famous catch-phrase is “For your health”. In this film, on the back of his jacket, it says “Good For Your Health.” A possible reference.
- John Ortiz and Shea Whigham appeared in Pride and Glory (2008), Fast & Furious (2009), and Fast & Furious 6 (2013).
- Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson also appear in Farce of the Penguins (2006), Unicorn Store (2017), and Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
- There are references to Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”.
- Derek Connolly did some last minute work on the script.
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