A major casting update for the follow-up to 2024’s Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire sets the stage for the Monsterverse debut of fan-favorite Toho kaiju that hasn’t been seen on the big screen in more than 50 years. The cast is starting to take shape for the upcoming sequel to Godzilla X Kong, which is set to release in 2027 with Grant Sputore (I Am Mother) in the director’s chair. While very few plot details have been confirmed, the movie will undoubtedly feature the franchise’s top two mᴀssive stars, Godzilla and Kong, taking on a world-ending monster threat.
While the casting of several new human characters indicates that the movie will continue the franchise’s tradition of following a new group of human stars with each entry, one star from Godzilla X Kong has been confirmed to return: Dan Stevens’ тιтan veterinarian/dentist Trapper Beasley. Given the fan reception for Stevens’ eccentric тιтan doctor, he will likely be featured prominently in the narrative once again. Trapper’s return actually opens the door for the Monsterverse to introduce a fan-favorite monster from Godzilla’s Toho days who only appeared one time, as a Godzilla ally.
Trapper’s Return Sets The Stage For Jet Jaguar To Enter The Monsterverse
Trapper Is The Perfect Person To Build And Pilot Jet Jaguar
Trapper’s return could actually yield the debut of Jet Jaguar in the Monsterverse. While Monarch may have funded it, Trapper appears to be one of the primary minds behind the B.E.A.S.T. gauntlet that Kong uses in his battle against Godzilla in Egypt, and against Skar King and Shimo in their clash in Rio. A result of “Project Powerhouse”, the B.E.A.S.T. gauntlet more than proved its usefulness against Shimo’s Frost Bite Blast, the strongest single attack in the Monsterverse, and could be the catalyst for Monarch to take Project Powerhouse to the next level by building their own complete monster ᴀsset.
B.E.A.S.T. stands for “Bio-Enhanced Anatomech Seismic Thunder”, which speaks to the gauntlet’s diverse array of enhancements for Kong’s right arm.
That could lead to the creation of a тιтan-sized robot that is not built for destruction like Mechagodzilla, but rather for peacekeeping and aid. Jet Jaguar was famously a force for good, as he actually became autonomous and chose to scale himself up in size and help Godzilla defeat Megalon and Gigan in Godzilla vs. Megalon. The Monsterverse would likely introduce Jet Jaguar not as a sentient robot, but as a robot controlled by a pilot as Mechagodzilla was originally intended to be. Given his medical knowledge and тιтan expertise, he would be the ideal pilot for such a robot.
The Groundwork Has Been Laid For Jet Jaguar’s Appearance For Four Years
Mechagodzilla Made Robot Kaiju A Reality
Once Apex Cybernetics introduced Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs. Kong, all robotic or cyborg kaiju from Godzilla’s past suddenly became a reality. While the original 2014 Godzilla was more grounded, all bets are off on keeping things even semi-realistic after Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire. That opens the door for Monarch to create their own robot that would act not as a threat to the natural order, but as a stabilizing force for the guardian тιтans like Godzilla, Kong, and Mothra. Jet Jaguar’s weaponless, humanoid form makes him the perfect fit for such a role.
The B.E.A.S.T. gauntlet actually originated from the technology used to build Mechagodzilla, with the plan being to build Kong an entire exoskeleton to augment his natural strength and agility. Funding was cut off, leaving only the gauntlet completed, but that funding could be restored by world governments who have now twice seen how useful Kong is as a guardian of humanity. Instead of simply adding to Kong’s own destructive capability (should he ever turn on humanity), common sense indicates that they’d look to invest in something more controllable.
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Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire Key Details |
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Budget |
Box Office Gross |
RT Tomatometer Score |
RT Popcornmeter Score |
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$150 million |
$571.8 million |
54% |
90% |
Of everyone on Earth, Trapper likely has the most first-hand knowledge of тιтan physiology, having worked on Kong himself on multiple occasions, and could legitimately pilot Jet Jaguar as a “тιтan doctor” in the Hollow Earth or on the surface. On top of that, he’s got the appropriate demeanor to match Jet Jaguar’s somewhat silly nature; Trapper behind the controls is how a classic scene like Jet Jaguar’s thumbs-up or handshake with Godzilla could be replicated into the Monsterverse. The only thing missing is the robot itself, which is completely possible from a technology standpoint in the Monsterverse.
The Monsterverse’s Next Threat Might Make Jet Jaguar Necessary
Godzilla X Kong 2’s Major Villain Should Be Too Strong For Godzilla And Kong
If the next world-ending monster threat is going to be even bigger and badder than the combo of Skar King and Shimo, then Trapper’s Jet Jaguar might end up an essential ally for Godzilla and Kong. Between Evolved Godzilla and Kong armed with the B.E.A.S.T. gauntlet, Skar King was dispatched fairly easily, especially once his hold over Shimo was broken. The next Monsterverse threat needs to put both hero тιтans on the ropes, and introduce some actual stakes that would force Jet Jaguar into combat.
Jet Jaguar could even be the bridge between the Monsterverse and the Pacific Rim franchise, as Trapper himself could wind up piloting Jet Jaguar’s body from inside the robot. “Jet Jaguar” even sounds like the name of a Pacific Rim Jaeger, alongside “Cherno Alpha” and “Gipsy Danger”, and it would be an extremely fun and clever way to cross over the two Legendary Studios franchises. Trapper is the key to unlocking Jet Jaguar in the Monsterverse, and his return for the Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire sequel puts everything on the table.
