'Godzilla vs. King Kong' release date, news & update: monster movie set for 2020

It is now official: Godzilla and King Kong will be going head to head in one monster mash-up movie.

In a press release by Legendary, the production company has announced that it will be teaming up with Warner Bros. Pictures and pitting the two behemoths in 2020. Godzilla vs. King Kong is expected to be shown in movie theatres sometime in 2020.

The movie follows the international success of the Godzilla reboot in 2014, a movie which grossed $529 million worldwide, according to Variety. "Audiences really responded to Godzilla," Legendary CEO Thomas Tull stated in the company's press statement.

"Today, I'm excited to reveal that film was only the beginning of an epic new entertainment universe. As a lifelong fan of these characters, I've always wanted to see the ultimate showdown, and today we're pleased to be announcing that and more."

Warner Bros. CEO and Chairman Kevin Tsujihara echoed Tull's enthusiasm saying, "It's great to be able to revisit these characters and help create a franchise with so many creative possibilities for filmmakers. Fans love these big, globally iconic films and it doesn't get any bigger than this."

The movie will act as the finale in a three movie series. Comic Vine stated in a recent report that Kong: Skull Island will be released on March 10, 2017 while Godzilla 2 is due on June 8, 2018.

As with the 2014 reboot, the Monarch people will also be appearing in the succeeding three movies, says Entertainment Weekly. The Monarch will be representing mankind in these films.

This bit of news confirmed what some fans have speculated for a few months now. According to Slash Film, in September, Legendary moved the production of Kong: Skull Island from Universal to Warner Bros., fueling speculations that a Godzilla and Kong movie was in the horizon.

Legendary has also obtained the rights for other characters that are included in the Godzilla universe. This offers the production company a lot of leeway to expand, add and develop other characters, Cinema Blend explains.

As of this writing, there are no updates yet on the casting or who's directing the third installment.

Legendary has revealed that Tom Hiddleston, Sam Jackson and Brie Larson will be starring in the upcoming Kong: Skull Island movie. Production starts October 19.

Gareth Edwards is expected to direct the second installment of the three movie series. He is the same director for Star Wars: Rogue One, according to Entertainment Weekly.