Godzilla x Kong’s Original Mothra Plan Proves Why The Monsterverse Needs More Toho Monsters

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire!

There was an alternative plan for the surprise return of the beloved kaiju Mothra in Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, and it proves exactly why Legendary’s Monsterverse needs more of the original Toho monsters that have fought with and against Godzilla through the decades. In Godzilla X Kong, Mothra is awakened by the Iwi girl Jia, who acts as a replacement for Mothra’s traditonal twin priestesses, and she acts as peacekeeper between Godzilla and Kong. Godzilla’s trust and respect for her is what convinces him to ally with Kong to take on their common enemy, the villainous Skar King.

However, Mothra’s return was far from guaranteed. In fact, director Adam Wingard revealed a new monster that could have taken the place of Mothra if it turned out that Legendary couldn’t use the giant moth. The creature’s name was Phosphera, and she had a gentler design to reflect her role, which would have been as a stand-in for Mothra as peacekeeper between Kong and Godzilla. Wingard revealed the plan was always to use Mothra though, and his reasoning speaks to exactly why the Monsterverse would benefit from involving more classic Toho monsters as it inevitably moves forward.

Adam Wingard Is Right, Godzilla & Kong’s Ally Had To Be Mothra

Her history with Godzilla was essential to the role she played in the final battle.

Director Adam Wingard clarified some rumors that Phosphera was scrapped after testing poorly; he revealed that the original plan was always Mothra. In order to effectively bridge the sizable gap between Godzilla and Kong’s perspectives, their common ally needed to be Mothra thanks to her relationship with Godzilla. Ever since her debut in the 1961 Toho classic Mothra, the so-called “Queen of the Monsters” has almost (emphasis on “almost”) always been Godzilla’s closest ally. Both monsters have traditionally acted as protectors of the world and humanity, especially in Toho’s Showa Era, which Godzilla X Kong tonally aligns with.

Jia’s ability to telepathically communicate with Mothra and use sign language with Kong means that there is an inherent understanding between the two guardian Titans. Mothra was always going to be the only Titan who could effectively communicate with Godzilla, making her presence necessary. By introducing a new Titan who is able to calm Godzilla down in Phosphera, the Monsterverse would have had to introduce a real reason that she had that ability, which would almost certainly come off across as half-baked and overly quick.

The Monsterverse’s Original Titans Shouldn’t Replace Toho’s Kaiju

Creating new Titans is exciting, but not in place of the classic monsters.

The Monsterverse has, so far, done a good job of balancing new Titans with classic kaiju who have previously been a part of Godzilla’s lore. Legendary has shown deference to the original Toho creations at almost every turn, ensuring that they don’t mishandle the original monsters from the iconic Japanese production company. They’ve managed to effectively introduce well-designed, fan-favorite new monsters to the universe that fit the narratives that they’re trying to tell, like the MUTOs, Skar King and Shimo.

It would have been a massive mistake for Legendary to replace Mothra’s natural role with a new Titan, and that will remain true for any future Monsterverse movies. The lore behind classic monsters like Mothra, Rodan, or Anguirus is so well-established that replacing them with previously unknown Titans can only be a source of disappointment. While Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire‘s box office returns prove that there are plenty of new fans discovering the appeal of Godzilla and his monstrous rogues’ gallery, the heart of the audience across the globe are fans of the original Godzilla movies and kaiju.

The Monsterverse’s Next Movie Should Balance Original & Classic Monsters

The Monsterverse has proven it can accommodate the best of both worlds.

One of the most positive takeaways from Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire is how it was able to balance the new villains in Skar King and Shimo with the established lore of Mothra. Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Godzilla vs. Kong focused largely on original villains from Godzilla’s history in Ghidorah and Mecahgodzilla, but both movies also found a logical way to mix in new Titans like the Warbats, Scylla and Behemoth. Future Monsterverse movies need to ensure that the nostalgia that accompanies the Toho monsters doesn’t overshadow the potential of new Titans.

Godzilla movies, especially from the Showa Era, featured monster team-ups on the side of both good and evil. That’s a great way to find a balance between old and original Titans in future Monsterverse movies. The existence of the Hollow Earth and the mythology of the Titans being the “first gods” aligns naturally with the classic lore of Toho monsters like Megalon, Biollante, and King Caesar. Teaming them up with a new villain, or aligning them with Godzilla against new villains is a great way to balance the history of Toho with the exciting potential of the Legendary Monsterverse.