MonsterVerse fans woke up to some major news: the latest installment inLegendary Pictures’s kaiju franchisehas an official titlewithGodzilla x Kong: Supernova. Not many details have been revealed about the upcoming monster mashup, but the brief teaser features an official hotline for monsters, and the “Supernova” title is sparking fan theories on what foe Godzilla and Kong will face next. Will it be a cosmic threat inthe vein of King Ghidorah? An entirely new kaiju like the Skar King fromGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire? What some fans might not know is that the MonsterVerse has sown the seeds for an iconic kaiju foe to appear inGodzilla X Kong: Supernova —the monstrosity known as Destoroyah.
Destoroyah Is One of the Deadliest Kaiju That Godzilla Ever Faced
Destoroyah made his first appearance inGodzilla vs.Destoroyah,which featured the highest stakes of any Godzilla film to date. He was born from the fallout of the Oxygen Destroyer, a weapon that was previously used to kill Godzilla; the Destroyer’s energies mutated the sea life caught in its blast, causing them to form into a colony of horrific creatures.Destoroyah proved to be one of the most powerful kaiju Godzilla had ever fought, due to his ability to evolve into different forms. Not only could Destoroyah fly and heal from injuries, but his “Perfect Form” was capable of devastating attacks, including a piercing laser from his horn, and his Micro-Oxygen breath obliterates everything in its path. On top of that, his demonic visage is the stuff of nightmares.
Godzilla vs. Destoroyahis also an important film in Godzilla canonbecause it served asa finale to the Heisei era, which served to bring Godzilla back to his roots as a force of nature. It also chose to end with Godzilla’s death, as the King of the Monsters was slowly approaching a nuclear meltdown that could ravage the entire Earth. Both Godzilla and Destoroyah’s forms match the apocalyptic stakes; as Godzilla’s meltdown worsens, red-hot rashes appear on his body as his chest starts to glow. Destoroyah’s origin even mirrors that of Godzilla’s, as Godzilla was born from the fallout of nuclear weapons, while Destoroyah is a product of the Oxygen Destroyer — showcasing how humanity could bring about its own destruction with the weapons we create for war.
The Seeds for Destoroyah’s Appearance Were Planted in a Previous MonsterVerse Movie
The MonsterVerse has actually laid the groundwork for Destoroyah to make an appearance. InGodzilla: King of the Monsters, the U.S. Military launches the Oxygen Destroyer to stop King Ghidorah, briefly killing Godzilla in the process.Godzilla x Kong: Supernovacould actually pick up on the fallout from this,and show Destoroyah as a major threat. Not only would it mark the first appearance of Destoroyah sinceGodzilla vs. Destoroyah, but it could explain why Godzilla and Kong team up again.Godzilla X Kong: The New Empirehad Kong seeking out Godzilla when he was overwhelmed by the Skar King, so perhaps the mighty ape could give Godzilla a hand.
In fact,Godzilla vs. Destoroyahwas actually a major influenceonGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire, according to directorAdam Wingard. In aninterview withDiscussingFilm, Wingard reveals that it was his favorite Godzilla movie due to its emotional impact:
“I’ll say this, one of my top Godzilla movies is Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. The reason it’s one of my favorite films is I don’t think any other Godzilla movie, maybe outside of Minus One and the 1954 original, has ever hit such emotional highs. The ending of that film, when Godzilla Jr. dies and, subsequently, Godzilla fucking melts to death, is so poignant and also beautiful in the way that they do it. The first time I saw it, it brought tears to my eyes. And part of that is thanks to Akira Ifukube’s grand score that plays in that scene.”
IfGodzilla x Kong: SupernovadirectorGrant Sputoreis looking to craft a worthy follow-up toGodzilla X Kong: The New Empire,he should heed Wingard’s wordsand deliver a battle against Destoroyah. Not only would it provide the fodder for another kaiju throwdown, but the idea of Godzilla dying after a decade’s worth of films is a tearjerking thought. Any way you slice it, Destoroyah would be the perfect foe.
Godzilla x Kong: Supernovacomes to theaters on July 07, 2025.
Godzilla x Kong: Supernova
