Why Legendary Films Haven't Included Lesser-Known Kaiju in the Monsterverse

Legendary Films, known for their sertility in bringing classic monsters to the big screen, has faced criticism for not incorporating lesser-known Kaiju in their Monsterverse. Why, you might ask, have Bagan, Baragon, Anguirus, and Destoroyah not made an appearance? Let's dive into the reasons.

Popularity and Recognition

One of the main reasons for the absence of these lesser-known Kaiju in the Monsterverse is their popularity and recognition. Bagan, Baragon, Anguirus, and Destoroyah are not as widely known as iconic Kaiju like King Kong or Godzilla.

Bagan, for instance, has never appeared in any famous films. This lack of screen presence makes it extremely challenging to secure the rights and integrate him into the Monsterverse. Even questions arise about the copyright status of Bagan. How exactly is this character defined and recognized legally? These uncertainties complicate the process significantly.

Baragon and Anguirus, while having dedicated fans, are still quite obscure. Their limited recognition means that obtaining the necessary permissions to include them in the Monsterverse is more difficult. This drawback is further exacerbated by the fact that Shusuke Kaneko was compelled to include Mothra and King Ghidorah in his Godzilla movie due to their popularity. Similarly, while Dougherty managed to use an Anguirus skeleton, he couldn’t fully integrate the character without a full license.

Character Licensing and Collaboration

The Toho Company Limited, the original creators of the Kaiju, play a significant role in this issue. To customize these characters for the Monsterverse, Legendary would need to license them from Toho. However, the licensing process is highly selective and often restricted to the most popular Kaiju, like Godzilla and King Kong. As a result, lesser-known Kaiju like Bagan, Baragon, Anguirus, and Destoroyah are often left out.

Timing and Integration also plays a crucial role. For example, Destoroyah appears in a very unique and powerful film Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, which may explain why he isn’t immediately included in the Monsterverse. Legendary, knowing that the audience craves classic Toho Kaiju, is likely pacing the integration of such characters. Rather than forcing these Kaiju into the sequel, the plan might be to gradually introduce them over time.

Potential for Inclusion

Despite the limitations, there is a possibility for greater inclusion of lesser-known Kaiju in the future. As entertainment companies like Legendary continue to collaborate with Toho and grow more invested in the Monsterverse, we might see a broader array of Kaiju characters. For instance, fans have speculated that Megalon, another classic Kaiju, could have been a contender for the role of Scar King in Kong: Regis, but the studio aimed to provide an archnemesis for King Kong. Perhaps in the future, we might see MechaniKong, another creation from Toho, making an appearance.

The key to greater inclusion lies in the willingness of Toho to lease their licenses. If the demand for classic Toho Kaiju continues to grow and directors become more passionate about including them, the chance of these lesser-known Kaiju appearing in the Monsterverse increases.

In conclusion, while Legendary Films may currently be restricted in including lesser-known Kaiju like Bagan, Baragon, Anguirus, and Destoroyah, the future looks promising. The Monsterverse continues to expand with the potential for more diverse Kaiju to join the ranks. Time will tell whether these characters make their mark, but for now, the originality and creativity of the Monsterverse remain intact.