Disney+ is in early development on a new live-action origin series about “King Kong.” This serialized drama will explore Kong’s origins as well as his mysterious home on Skull Island. Disney+’s “King Kong” will be based on the original 1933 film written by Merian C. Cooper, and the new novelizations by artist Joe DeVito that were produced alongside Cooper’s estate.
While this series is still in the early stages, we do have some confirmed talent attached already. Stephany Folsom (“Paper Girls”) will write the script and executive produce. James Wan (“Aquaman”) and Dannie Festa of World Builder Entertainment will executive produce. Michael Clear and Rob Hackett will also produce under their Atomic Monster banner.
To be clear, this series is in no way connected to the Monsterverse series from Legendary Entertainment which includes “Kong: Skull Island,” “Godzilla vs. Kong,” and the newer films. It is also not to be confused with Legendary’s Monarch show coming to Apple TV+, or the animated Netflix show “Skull Island.” The separation between Disney+’s “King Kong” and Legendary’s Monsterverse are due to some complicated rights issues with the character. Legendary only has the rights to use the “Kong” part of the name when referring to the oversized ape.
There is certainly no shortage of “King Kong” content coming down the pipeline which is no surprise considering the original 1933 film was a huge hit with critics and audiences. Not to mention the, at the time, groundbreaking special effects that they used to create the king himself. It was so popular in fact he has already spawned 2 remakes decades apart. One in 1976 by “The Towering Inferno” director John Guillermin, and 2005’s by “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson.
It does not seem like the “King Kong” well will dry up anytime soon. Maybe we will finally find out how he beat Godzilla back in 1962. We expect to hear more during Disney+ Day (September 8th) and D23 (September 9th-10th).
