Two pop culture icons - Godzilla and King Kong - are headed for a massive showdown in Godzilla vs. Kong, but what could possibly trigger a fight between two heroic Titans? There are actually a lot of factors that could lead to this scenario, but which one will set up the “spectacular battle for the ages” teased in the official synopsis? In their first and only crossover movie, King Kong vs. Godzilla, Kong started it by throwing rocks at Godzilla. Just their proximity to each other may have been motivation enough for a fight, but Godzilla vs. Kong is expected to give both monsters deeper reasons for conflict.

Directed by Adam Wingard, Godzilla vs. Kong brings back three cast members from Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Originally set for a March release, the fourth installment in the MonsterVerse was moved back to November 2020. The explanation for Godzilla vs. Kong’s delay is likely due to Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ struggles at the box office and Warner Bros.’ commitment to making sure the next movie is a hit. Unfortunately, this means it may be a while longer before a trailer is finally released.

Until the trailer hits, much of what Godzilla vs. Kong has in store for audiences is open to speculation, though it has been confirmed that the movie will explore Monarch’s investigation into the origin of the Titans. What kicks off the fight between Godzilla and Kong, however, is being kept under wraps. Here’s every reason why the two titular Titans may come to blows in Godzilla vs. Kong.

Kong Disobeys The Alpha

Nearly every Titan responded when summoned by King Ghidorah in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, but Kong deliberately ignored Ghidorah’s call, which meant that he didn’t regard Ghidorah as the alpha. If Kong has issues with authority, he may regard Godzilla in the same way. Godzilla has been accepted by Rodan and the other Titans as the alpha, and as the King of the Monsters credits reveal, Godzilla has thus far been able to keep his new minions in line. How will he take it if Kong ignores his commands or rebels against him? To maintain the loyalty of the Titans, Godzilla may not stand for such a show of disrespect and could be inclined to put Kong in his place in an effort to prove that he is the dominant predator in the MonsterVerse.

Kong Wants To Be The Alpha

Kong may do more than just ignore the new alpha. It’s possible that Kong may seek to dethrone Godzilla. With several Titans on their way to Skull Island, Kong may realize that the only way to rein them in is to take control of them himself. To accomplish this, Kong would need to defeat Godzilla and take his place as the alpha. A simple battle for dominance may be the only reason Godzilla or Kong will need to test each other’s mettle.

Kong And Godzilla Have A Misunderstanding

A misunderstanding could make sense of why Godzilla and Kong exchange blows. One could regard the other as an enemy, before realizing that they’re on the same side. A possible scenario involves Kong’s protective instinct when it comes to humans with whom he shares an emotional connection. As King of the Monsters director Mike Dougherty has pointed out, Kong tends to have “warm, bonding moments” with humans, similar to how he connects with Brie Larson’s character in Kong: Skull Island. If Kong has this sort of relationship with one or more of Godzilla vs. Kong’s characters, he may be quick to jump into action if he thinks Godzilla is a potential threat.

Godzilla Or Kong Is Mind-Controlled

The redacted text in the credits of King of the Monsters suggests that telepathic mind control is an existing concept in the MonsterVerse and one that was invented by an ancient civilization. If modern humans replicate this process with a variation of the Orca, they could discover a way to force Godzilla or Kong to do their bidding. Mind control is a common plot device in classic Godzilla movies, and it wouldn’t be the first time Godzilla and Kong have been deprived of their free well.

Godzilla Invades Kong’s Territory (Or Vice Versa)

One of the most plausible explanations for the fight between Godzilla and Kong is an invasion of territory. As the King of Skull Island, Kong won’t take kindly to Titans visiting his home, and if Godzilla is among them, a fight would be inevitable. Kong would view Godzilla as an intruder and feel compelled to show him that on Skull Island, Kong reigns supreme. Given what it is known of Kong - and predators, in general – it stands to reason that Kong would not allow Godzilla to roam Skull Island unchallenged. Alternatively, the events of Godzilla vs. Kong could draw Kong away from Skull Island, and straight into a region that Godzilla believes to be his territory.

Kong Goes On A Rampage

Chaos on Skull Island, Monarch scientists exploring the Hollow Earth tunnels, the return of the Skullcrawlers, or the arrival of invading Titans could send Kong into a rampage, which would be similar to how he reacted to the U.S. military’s visit in Kong: Skull Island. While on a mindless rampage, attacking Godzilla may occur as an impulse, and then once Godzilla retaliates, the Godzilla-Kong rivalry would be set in motion.

Godzilla And Kong Are Ancestral Enemies

The final big tease from the King of the Monsters credits is a cave painting that depicts a clash between Godzilla and Kong. Of course, the two monsters have never met, considering that Kong was just an adolescent in Kong: Skull Island. This painting was made hundreds or perhaps even thousands of years before Kong’s birth. What this suggests is that though Godzilla and Kong have no shared history, Godzilla (or ancient members of his species) may have fought Kong’s ancestors. If this is true, then Godzilla and Kong’s reason for fighting each other could be that they’re just natural enemies. An inborn hatred of each other could lead the two ancestral enemies into conflict.

Mechagodzilla Triggers The Fight

A recent toy leak has spoiled the inclusion of Mechagodzilla in Godzilla vs. Kong, prompting speculation that the movie’s plot will culminate in a team-up between Godzilla and King Kong, who may have to work together to take down Mechagodzilla. Mechagodzilla, a property of Toho, is a robotic duplicate of Godzilla originally created by aliens to conquer Earth. In his first movie, 1974’s Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, Mechagodzilla’s first encounter with a kaiju was Anguirus. Mechagodzilla had an outer layer of skin that made him look like the real Godzilla, but his fight with Anguirus exposed his true nature. If the human villains of the movie use technology to disguise Mechagodzilla as Godzilla, this could manipulate Kong - and perhaps the humans - into thinking that Godzilla is their enemy.

More: What Is Mechagodzilla? Godzilla vs Kong’s MonsterVerse Character Explained

  • Godzilla Vs Kong Release Date: 2021-03-31