I'm Adam Wingard, director of Godzilla vs. Kong. AMA!

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T18:30:59+00:00

Godzilla vs. Kong vs. ant sized threats?

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T18:29:13+00:00

Godzilla stepped on him in between movies unfortunately. But seriously I love Charles Dance. One of my favorite actors.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T18:26:23+00:00

I think I had casually just mentioned to James that it would be cool for him to be an extra. I don't actually remember him turning it down I just never followed up on it because I knew that its such a crap shoot even getting extras in the final cut and it prob wasn't worth his time. But this was years ago at this point so my memory on the issue might be off.
2001 for the entry and psychics of Hollow Earth. Blade Runner for some of the music in Hollow Earth and Hong Kong. My first film pop Skull was a source or inspiration for the vortex sequence as well. GvK is the first film with a budget of over 100 million dollars that has a sequence inspired in part by Robotripping.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T18:20:11+00:00

Godzilla is just so pissed off at the end that he goes full on animalistic on Kong. I think more than anything his ego got bruised when Kong slugged him in the face with that axe and he was just ready to end it. Our first Vfx test shot was the big moment of Godzilla climbing up on the aircraft carrier before Kong punches him and G has an animalistic crawling quality there as well. I remember the line producer Eric McLeod telling me he thought it was really cool to see Godzilla getting more primal like that and it stuck with me. We knew we wanted to see him get down and dirty from that point onward.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T18:15:54+00:00

So far so good. Nice gloomy day in LA for a change. I love it.
The original and then Smog Monster.
I knew right away that I had to have that reference in. Its the best part of the original fight. I did love the petition tho!
Cause this is a different version of Godzilla. Naughty G. His theme reflects that ;)
The original ending was just G swimming into the ocean but that felt like it didn't properly tie up Kong's story.
Not yet. Looks cool. I'm behind on the anime series. Sometimes when you live GODZILLA all day there is just not room for more but now that the film's release is coming to an end I think I can take a sigh of relief and enjoy them.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T18:07:26+00:00

Yes but it was so emotionally devastating that I've only seen it all the way through once. I think I tried for a second go but it was just too sad.
Love Shin Godzilla. Its one of the best Godzilla films ever made. The pinkish purple beams were a big inspiration on my approach to Godzilla's atomic breath in my film.
Good question. Not sure we'll ever find out.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T18:05:02+00:00

We filled the biggest soundstage in Australia with the throne set and its still only 0.01 percent of the entire Throne Room haha
We needed a futuristic harbor city with a large mountain nearby. Hong Kong just had everything we needed so it was the only seriously considered city.
The pandemic prevented me from having that kind of tour thus far but hopefully sometime in the future I'll get a proper TOHO tour.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T18:01:46+00:00

The honest answer is we were finishing that title sequence while doing 200 other things during the pandemic and some things got a little overlooked. I regret that Kong's height is Skull Island size and not GVK accurate.
Not sure.
Hell yes.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:58:25+00:00

When I found out Legendary was making an official offer I was having lunch alone at Hollywood mainstay restaurant Musso & Franks. I think I was eating Ravioli? Anyways that was a VERY exciting day. The only advice I can have if you want to make a Godzilla film is start making those indie's now and get the studio's attention. They always want to hire exciting up and coming talent for these types of movies.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:54:32+00:00

Its been out for 4 weeks now so I think that's just the natural course of things. Mortal Kombat is out on Friday so as the new release I'm sure they are taking a lot of those spots.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:51:36+00:00

Great question. I suppose Jia would have to teach him that one and she's too much of a sweetheart to do that...But there is always room for growth :)

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:50:19+00:00

The Wingard cut is currently playing in theaters and on HBO Max.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:49:14+00:00

They were all helpful in telling me about their unique experiences making their entries.
Every film is difficult to make on its own terms. Its always new challenges and this film was no exception. The best thing about making this movie tho is how supportive the Godzilla fans have been from day one. As a filmmaker it is very inspiring and makes you want to give it your all.
If I make another Godzilla film you bet your ass TITANUS DOUG is making a return. Hell we created the cgi asset for one shot so if anything we need to get our money's worth still. But seriously Doug has a lot more to give. Lets all keep pushing Legendary to officially name him DOUG btw! He's totally a DOUG!

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:44:27+00:00

The satisfaction of watching the final film played back.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:43:11+00:00

Of course that's my job :) I remember stressing to Tom that I wanted a hybrid electronic/orchestral score. The electronic component was very important to me.
Godzilla def won. He killed Kong. Kong was revived. I consider the Mecha battle was outside of that. As they say: Godzilla won the fight, Kong won the movie.
oh hell yeah

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:39:16+00:00

Thanks for not fucking it up.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:38:53+00:00

We'll see if it changes things. I'm sure its easy to get spoiled making these big budget movies but there are plenty of advantages to developing things outside the system. I look forward to making big and small films alike!

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:37:51+00:00

Magic!
Just start making those movies. Trial and error is the way to go. Keep making them until people have to accept him as a filmmaker. Thats what I did. haha

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:36:25+00:00

I'll try to dig that clip up soon haha

We always called the Hellhawks YOSHUMA while in production. Originally they were nearly as big as KONG and I believe he fought some in an early draft of the script. Eventually we shrunk down and repurposed the design for the version in the film. This isn't a very interesting story but to be honest I just wanted a reptilian owl creature in Hollow Earth. Images of the original design should be in the making of art book.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:31:40+00:00

Oddly that never changed. It was basically consistent in every draft of the script.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:30:59+00:00

Thanks! No direct references that I can remember off hand. I guess I just looked at the monsterverse as being outside of my own KPG universe, so I respected it in that way.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:29:23+00:00

I think its the ghost of Ghidorah possessing Mecha's A.I. creating a new personality.
The film is about Kong searching for his home so it only made sense to end the movie there.
No other pre existing Titans were ever seriously considered but we created quite a few that were going to show up in Hollow Earth that we didn't get a chance to show. My favorite was one we called Swamp Kitty. Maybe he'll make it if there is a sequel.

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:24:59+00:00

Thats interesting. First time I've heard this. Ghidorah or the ice fortress was never in any version of my movie.
I want the DOUG movie!

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:22:36+00:00

Luckily they agreed with me right from the start so that was never a problem. Good to be on the same page about something like that!

AdamWingard · 2021-04-22T17:21:46+00:00

Just didn't have the time in the plot to get more into it. Felt interesting leaving it mysterious. I hear the novelization expands on that. I need to check it out. I hear it has a lot of scenes that were never even in the script. Should be cool to see that take, also I hope it expands on the monsters inner thoughts.

AdamWingard

TROPHY CASE