ST236

MOVIE FEATURE

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THE ORIGINAL RUMBLE

These titans’ first clash was in the 1962 classic King Kong vs. Godzilla , which was the third instalment of both respective franchises. It also marked the first time either of them had been presented in colour. Much like the original Godzilla

(1954), the International version was significantly different, with film producer John Beck owning exclusive rights to the release in non-Asian territories. A new script

and new footage were shot to appeal to western audiences.

says of the franchise's enormity. “I love working with Rebecca,” she adds. “I'm very happy to be working alongside her again, and some new people as well”. Curious about any limitations she may have faced as a deaf cast member, we inquired about the fundamental differences, if any, between her experiences in the first movie and this second time around. “No, I didn't really have any challenges working alongside Adam. He was so open and understanding, and even though working with a deaf person was a new experience for him, he was informative and showed me the camera angles and stuff. He was so cool to me.” Keen to share her own thoughts on working with Kaylee again, Rebecca jumps in. “My ASL [American Sign Language] was much better this time,” she says enthusiastically, laughing “The first time around it was poor. I would haltingly try to ask her questions and then I'd be painstakingly finger spelling ev-er-y-th-ing v-e-ry, v-e-ry slow-ly. She's a lot older now and it's been fascinating to watch her grow up.” On returning to the series and reuniting with Adam, she adds “Everything is better. It's not often that you get to do two films with the same character and the same world. You learn a lot from the first one and everything is a little bit better the second time around. We know what worked in the first one, and we know how to make it that much better in the new one.”

Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' MonsterVerse ramps up with the release of Godzilla x Kong:The New Empire , marking the fifth entry in the film franchise. Words Glenn Cochrane T he film follows two titans as they unite to combat a colossal, undiscovered hidden threat that jeopardises not only their existence, but also our own.

Director Adam Wingard and stars Rebecca Hall and Kaylee Hottle return following Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), and sat down with STACK to chat about the latest clash of the titans. “King Kong and Godzilla are two of the biggest icons in film history, and it took both of them in one movie to sort of save cinema,” explains Wingard, recalling the impact of the previous movie, which was released when the world was coming out of the pandemic. “At the time, theatres were at their lowest point and no one was going to see films, not even Christopher Nolan movies,” he adds facetiously. With Godzilla turning 70 this year, we were

Director Adam Wingard with Dan Stevens and Rebecca Hall

keen to know if the anniversary was something Adam had in mind while chasing a 2024 release date. “You know, I didn't even think about that,” he admits. “I guess to a certain degree when you start these movies you don't really know when they're going to be finished. So, it's hard to predict those things, but perhaps it's just serendipitous? It's always nice when there's an anniversary that gives it that context.” Although 11-year-old Kaylie Hottle, who is deaf, may not be as familiar with the legacies of Godzilla and Kong, she shares her experience of being part of such massive blockbuster movies through her interpreter. "It's such an experience to be able to be this young and be a part of this movie, and I did not know about Godzilla or King Kong before being involved in the last movie. I think it's cool,” she

Kaylee Hottle and Rebecca Hall

• Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is out Jun 26

12 JUNE 2024

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