Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (TV 2023–2026)
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SPOILER WARNING: This section may contain major plot and/or ending details. Proceed at your own discretion. |
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Some secrets cannot be contained
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— Tagline |
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (モナーク：レガシー・オブ・モンスターズ Monāku: Regashī obu Monsutāzu) is a 2023 science-fiction monster television series developed, co-written, and showran by Chris Black and Matt Fraction. Produced by Legendary Television in collaboration with Safehouse Pictures and Toho, the first season premiered exclusively on the streaming service Apple TV+ (now Apple TV) on November 17, 2023, and aired weekly thereafter until January 12, 2024. The second season will air weekly from February 27 to May 1, 2026.[2] The series is the second to be set in the Monsterverse, after Netflix's animated series Skull Island, which released earlier in 2023. It stars Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, and father–son duo Kurt and Wyatt Russell.
The first season features two parallel storylines. The first, set in 2015 between the events of Godzilla (2014) and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), is centered around Japanese-American Cate Randa, a former school teacher who lived through Godzilla's attack on San Francisco. With her half-brother Kentaro and his ex-girlfriend May Olowe-Hewitt, she searches for answers about her and Kentaro's mysterious father, and finds herself entangled with the titular organization Monarch in the process. The second storyline is set in the past, from the 1950s to '80s, and follows early Monarch members—rising U.S. Army soldier Lee Shaw, and Cate and Kentaro's grandparents Bill and Keiko Randa—as they make a series of discoveries about Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms.
An untitled spinoff show, starring Shaw and set late into the Cold War, was announced to have been greenlit at Apple in 2025.
Descriptions
Season 1
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Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” tracks two siblings following in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows. The dramatic saga — spanning three generations — reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives.[6]
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After surviving Godzilla’s attack on San Francisco, Cate is shaken yet again by a shocking secret. Amid monstrous threats, she embarks on a globetrotting adventure to learn the truth about her family—and the mysterious organization known as Monarch.[5]
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Season 2
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Season two will pick up with the fate of Monarch — and the world — hanging in the balance. The dramatic saga reveals buried secrets that reunite our heroes (and villains) on Kong’s Skull Island, and a new, mysterious village where a mythical Titan rises from the sea. The ripple effects of the past make waves in the present day, blurring the bonds between family, friend and foe — all with the threat of a titan event on the horizon.[7]
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Episodes
| † | Denotes release dates that are assumed but not confirmed |
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by[4] | Air date[5] | |
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| Overall | Season | ||||
| Season 1 | |||||
| 1 | 1 | "Aftermath" | Matt Shakman | Chris Black | November 17, 2023 |
| Cate travels to Japan to get answers about her father and uncovers a shocking secret. Keiko, Lee, and Billy pursue a theory about Titans. | |||||
| 2 | 2 | "Departure" | Matt Shakman | Chris Black | November 17, 2023 |
| Monarch closes in on Cate, Kentaro, and May as they try to track down a key individual. Keiko, Lee, and Billy stumble on a major find. | |||||
| 3 | 3 | "Secrets and Lies" | Julian Holmes | Andrew Colville | November 22, 2023 |
| Shaw leads the team on a dangerous mission to Alaska in search of Hiroshi. Keiko, Lee, and Billy present their findings to General Puckett. | |||||
| 4 | 4 | "Parallels and Interiors" | Julian Holmes | Milla Bell-Hart | December 1, 2023 |
| The team is left stranded in the frozen tundra after a narrow escape. Kentaro reflects on his relationships. | |||||
| 5 | 5 | "The Way Out" | Mairzee Almas | Amanda Overton | December 8, 2023 |
| Cate's painful memories of G-Day come flooding back as she treks through the ruins of San Francisco with Kentaro and May. | |||||
| 6 | 6 | "Terrifying Miracles" | Mairzee Almas | Karl Greenfeld | December 15, 2023 |
| Shaw finds an unlikely ally within Monarch as the team has a harrowing run-in. Keiko and Lee grow closer while at a military ball. | |||||
| 7 | 7 | "Will the Real May Please Stand Up?" | Hiromi Kamata | Mariko Tamaki | December 22, 2023 |
| May finally faces her past. Duvall and Shaw follow traces of Godzilla and Hiroshi. | |||||
| 8 | 8 | "Birthright" | Hiromi Kamata | Al Letson | December 29, 2023 |
| The team goes back to where things all began to confront Shaw. On the brink of collapse, Monarch takes drastic measures. | |||||
| 9 | 9 | "Axis Mundi" | Andy Goddard | Matt Fraction | January 5, 2024 |
| Shaw and May search for Cate and make a startling discovery. Kentaro struggles with his loss. | |||||
| 10 | 10 | "Beyond Logic" | Andy Goddard | Chris Black | January 12, 2024 |
| Season finale. The team struggles to find a way out of Axis Mundi. Kentaro and Tim make an unexpected alliance. | |||||
| Season 2 | |||||
| 11 | 1 | "Cause and Effect" | Lawrence Trilling | Chris Black | February 27, 2026 |
| Decades after being presumed dead, Keiko's return shocks Monarch. Cate defies orders to save Shaw—and unleashes a terrifying new Titan. | |||||
| 12 | 2 | "Resonance" | Lawrence Trilling | Dan Dworkin | March 6, 2026 |
| Lee and Keiko investigate a secretive village with a cult devoted to a mysterious creature. Cate crosses paths with a deadly stowaway. | |||||
| 13 | 3 | "Secrets" | Hiromi Kamata | Kari Drake | March 13, 2026 |
| Shaw, Keiko, Hiroshi, and Kentaro go rogue in an attempt to find Titan X. Cate struggles with feelings of guilt. A buried secret is exposed. | |||||
| 14 | 4 | "Trespass" | Hiromi Kamata[8] | Ralph Eggleston | March 20, 2026 |
| To get Hiroshi's device back, Shaw and the team execute a daring heist at Apex Cybernetics. | |||||
| 15 | 5 | TBA | Jeff F. King[8] | Andrew Colville | March 27, 2026 † |
| 16 | 6 | TBA | Jeff F. King[8] | Maria Melnik | April 3, 2026 † |
| 17 | 7 | TBA | Gandja Monteiro[8] | Joe Pokaski | April 10, 2026 † |
| 18 | 8 | TBA | Gandja Monteiro[8] | Mariko Tamaki | April 17, 2026 † |
| 19 | 9 | TBA | Lawrence Trilling[8] | Tanner Hansinger | April 24, 2026 † |
| 20 | 10 | TBA | Lawrence Trilling[8] | Joe Pokaski (story by Andrew Colville) |
May 1, 2026[2] |
Staff
Both seasons
Staff role on the left, staff member's name on the right.
- Developed by Chris Black, Matt Fraction
- Casting by Ronna Kress
- Music by Leopold Ross
- Production design by Caroline Hanania
- Visual effects supervisor Sean Konrad
Season 1
- Directed by Matt Shakman, Julian Holmes, Mairzee Almas, Hiromi Kamata, Andy Goddard
- Written by Chris Black, Andrew Colville, Milla Bell-Hart, Amanda Overton, Karl Greenfeld, Mariko Tamaki, Al Letson, Matt Fraction
- Staff writer Mariko Tamaki
- Executive producers Thomas Tull, Hiro Matsuoka, Takemasa Arita, Max Borenstein, Brad Van Arragon, Andy Goddard, Andrew Colville, Matt Fraction, Matt Shakman, Tory Tunnell, Joby Harold, Chris Black
- Co-executive producers Amanda Overton, Milla Bell-Hart, Matt Schwartz
- Supervising producer Karl Greenfeld
- Produced by Brian Rogers, Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira, Scott Schofield, Al Letson
- Associate producer Caroline Stack
- Consulting producers Michael Dougherty, Zach Shields, Bob Ducsay
- Visual effects producer Jessica Smith
- Cinematography by Jess Hall, Jean-Philippe Gossart, Chris Seager, Sam McCurdy
- Edited by Nona Khodai, Emily Streetz, Joe Talbot Hall, Mark Hartzell
- First assistant directors Jim Brebner, Dan Miller, Gurjit Chohan
Season 2
- Directed by Lawrence Trilling, Hiromi Kamata, Jeff F. King, Gandja Monteiro[8]
- Written by Chris Black, Dan Dworkin, Kari Drake, Ralph Eggleston, Andrew Colville, Maria Melnik, Joe Pokaski, Mariko Tamaki, Tanner Hansinger
- Story by Andrew Colville (episode 20)
- Executive story editor Mariko Tamaki
- Executive producers Thomas Tull, Hiro Matsuoka, Takemasa Arita, Max Borenstein, Matt Shakman, Jen Roskind, Lawrence Trilling, Andrew Colville, Tory Tunnell, Joby Harold, Chris Black
- Co-executive producers Kari Drake, Amanda Overton, Matt Schwartz
- Supervising producer Al Letson
- Produced by Brian Rogers, Kei Banno, Kenji Okuhira, Scott Schofield
- Co-producer Doug Moreno
- Associate producer Caroline Stack
- Consulting producers Michael Dougherty, Zach Shields, Bob Ducsay, Maria Melnik, Joe Pokaski, Dan Dworkin
- Visual effects producer Elizabeth Willaman
- Cinematography by Ben Nott
- Edited by Joe Talbot Hall
- First assistant directors Edd Bennetto, James McGrady
Recurring cast
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Actor's name on the left, character played on the right.
Japanese dub
French dub
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Portuguese dub
German dub
Italian dub
Castilian Spanish dub
Latin American Spanish dub
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Major appearances
Titans and superspecies |
Weapons, vehicles, races, and organizations
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Development
The series was announced by Apple on January 20, 2022; details included that it would be co-created by Chris Black and Matt Fraction, executive produced by Black, Fraction, Safehouse Pictures, and Toho, and set after the events of 2014's Godzilla.[11]
Four days later on January 24, Charles Murphy of Murphy's Multiverse reported that the series had been given the title "Hourglass" and was scheduled to begin production that May.[12] This proved true with the release of issue 1283 of Production Weekly on January 27, which confirmed its working title as Hourglass as well as its planned production period.[13] The publication also revealed additional producers and Chris Black and Matt Fraction's role as writers, among other staff.[13] Issue 1286 of Production Weekly, released on February 17, confirmed that the series would be shooting in Vancouver, Tokyo, and Hawaii, and gave a new title of "Monarch".[14]
On April 14, issue #1294 of Production Weekly reported Matt Shakman as director.[15] On May 5, issue #1297 reported that Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell were rumored for the roles of "Old Lee Shaw" and "Young Lee Shaw," respectively.[16] Variety reported on May 19 that Shakman would only be directing the series' first two episodes as well as executive producing.[17] Production Weekly dropped the Monarch title with issue #1305 on June 30, instead switching to "Godzilla and the Titans." The same issue reported Anna Sawai, Ren Watabe, Kiersey Clemons, Joe Tippett, and Elisa Lasowski as cast members;[18] Deadline corroborated this the same day, though it maintained that the series was still untitled.[19]
Variety confirmed Kurt and Wyatt Russell's casting on July 20, though their roles were not specified.[20] On August 18, Deadline reported that Mari Yamamoto had also joined the cast.[21] On October 3, Variety announced that Anders Holm had joined.[22]
On November 13, Fraction spoke briefly about the series in a post for his and Kelly Sue DeConnick's subscription newsletter Milkfed Dispatches, revealing the show to be 10 episodes long.[23] Between February 7 and 8 of 2023, Collider and ComicBook.com reported on interviews both had conducted with Shakman. In the former interview, he stated the show to be in post-production and that it would have "some overlap" with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, though "it's not as involved as, say, an MCU kind of Disney+ film crossover. It's less organized than that."[24][25] In the latter, he revealed that the series will involve "a lot of cool Titans and monsters, some new, some old."[26]
On February 23, trademarks were filed for "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" by Legend IP Holdings Production, LLC.[27] The title was announced officially that August 17, along with the series' projected release window.[28]
Production
The series filmed in Vancouver, Tokyo, and Hawaii.[14] A shooting period was initially set for between May 9 and November 16, 2022,[13] with the British Columbia unit to begin on May 26 and conclude on October 18.[16] However, the BC unit's shooting period was later moved back to between July 6 and December 19.[29] The BC unit's wrap date was then moved up to December 14[18] and again to December 9, with shooting finally beginning on June 27.[30] Shooting in Hawaii was set to begin that December.[18] By January 7, 2023, principal photography on the series had concluded and it had entered post-production.[24]
Shooting on the second season took place in Queensland, Australia.[31] It had begun by July 31, 2024,[32] and finished on February 20, 2025.[33]
Marketing
Four stills from the show were released on August 17, 2023, two of which were set during Godzilla's battle with the U.S. military at the Golden Gate Bridge in Godzilla (2014).[28] A short video released on September 7[34] preceded the release of a teaser on September 8, which revealed John Goodman's return to the Monsterverse as Bill Randa and offered glimpses of two new monsters and a Mother Longlegs.
A poster was revealed exclusively on the r/Monsterverse subreddit on October 9.[35] A panel for the show was held at the New York Comic Con, with a screening of the first episode on October 12.[36] The same day, the MonarchSciences Twitter account originally created to promote Kong: Skull Island began tweeting again; however, the account was "taken over" by a mysterious third party.[37] Later the same day, a trailer for the show was released, showcasing several new monsters and characters,[38] and a new viral marketing website named Monarch Unlocked was made available,[39] featuring a video message by Bill Randa and several photos. On October 24, the site was updated with an additional video from Randa titled "Randa_Super8.mp4."[40]
On November 12, 2025, Kaiju News Outlet exclusively shared a teaser for season 2 on X.[41] Apple released a "date announcement" video the following day which incorporated this footage. This was followed by a full teaser trailer on January 13, 2026, which revealed the season's antagonist, Titan X, and a trailer on February 3. A red carpet premiere was held at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on February 19,[42] during which the season's first two episodes were screened.[43]
Alternate titles
- Hourglass (working title)[13]
- Monarch (proposed title)[14]
- Godzilla and the Titans (proposed title)[18]
In other languages
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Gallery
- Main article: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters/Gallery.
Videos
- Main article: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters/Videos.
Trivia
- Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the first Godzilla television series which does not feature Godzilla's name in its title.
- This is the first live-action Godzilla television series in over two decades, following Godzilla TV (1999-2000). Godziban (2019-2025), while live action, is not televised.
- It is also the first live-action Godzilla TV series to be story-driven since Godzilla Island (1997-1998) 26 years prior, and the first American Godzilla series of any kind since Godzilla: The Series (1998-2000) 25 years prior.
- Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the first TV show to directly tie into a Godzilla film continuity since Godzilla: The Series, and the first of them to be live action since Zone Fighter (1973). However, it is not the first TV show to tie into the Monsterverse continuity, as Netflix's animated series Skull Island was released four months prior.
- Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the first major installment in the Monsterverse to feature Godzilla's GareGoji design outside of stock footage since its debut in Godzilla (2014). It appears in flashbacks to 2014 and earlier.
- The character of Lee Shaw first appeared in the 2014 Monsterverse graphic novel Godzilla: Awakening, though his first name was not given and his backstory was significantly altered for the show.[44]
- The ruins of Salesforce Tower can be seen in flashbacks to San Francisco in 2014. In real life, the tower wasn't completed until 2018.
- The Bay Bridge is also shown destroyed in flashbacks, although it can be seen intact in Godzilla (2014) as Godzilla returns to the ocean.
- While nearly every episode of the first season was released on a Friday, the third episode was released on a Wednesday, likely due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
- The Apple TV+ Press listing for the series erroneously gives its parental rating as TV-Y, the lowest on the scale.[45] In actuality it is rated TV-14, the second-highest.
- Characters in the series refer to the day in which Godzilla battled the MUTOs in San Francisco as "G-Day." In Legendary Pictures' other giant monster franchise, Pacific Rim, K-DAY is the term used for the day the first Kaiju, Trespasser, made landfall. Both of these monster attacks resulted in the destruction of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.
- The show's Japanese dub and captions translate Titan as "kaiju", keeping consistent with the Japanese versions of Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
- Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the first piece of live-action Godzilla media to feature LGBTQ+ characters.
- The only two monster fights in the show's first season take place in the first and last episodes.
- The trailer for the series' second season shows Godzilla in a Japanese city. The Monsterverse incarnation of the character has never been previously shown making landfall in Japan, although he did enter Japanese waters in Godzilla: Awakening and the series' first season.
External links
Notes
- ↑ Only physically appears in one episode but is seen again through stock footage.
References
This is a list of references for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
Bibliography
- ""UNTITLED GODZILLA AND TITANS PROJECT" (w/t "HOURGLASS") Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1283. Production Weekly. 27 January 2022.
- ""MONARCH" (w/t "HOURGLASS") Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1286. Production Weekly. 17 February 2022.
- ""MONARCH" (w/t "HOURGLASS") Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1287. Production Weekly. 24 February 2022.
- ""MONARCH" Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1289. Production Weekly. 10 March 2022.
- ""MONARCH" Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1294. Production Weekly. 14 April 2022.
- ""GODZILLA AND THE TITANS" Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1305. Production Weekly. 30 June 2022.
- ""GODZILLA AND THE TITANS" Series / Apple TV+". Production Weekly. No. 1306. Production Weekly. 7 July 2022.
- Scott, Darren, ed. (February 2026). "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters". SFX. No. 401. Future PLC. ISSN 1358-5959.
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