Rodan would have been a bad fit for Godzilla vs. Kong 2 is a completely different story. It has yet to receive an official title, but it’s no longer a well-kept secret now that Legendary Pictures is developing a sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong. The fifth installment in the MonsterVerse is expected to begin shooting in Australia sometime this year.
Aside from the reveal that Godzilla vs. Kong director Adam Wingard is returning to helm the project, little is known about the MonsterVerse project. It’s rumored to be a Son of Kong adaptation, but whether or not that’s really the case remains to be seen. Either way, the fact that the movie is being described as a Godzilla vs. Kong sequel is an indication – albeit not confirmation – that both titular Titans will be returning. When they show up, they may not be alone. Given the impressive number of Titans that already exist, quite a few monsters are on the table for Godzilla and Kong’s next story.
One Titan who could work well in Godzilla vs. Kong 2 is Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ Rodan. He was actually a fan-favorite choice that was heavily theorized for a role in Godzilla vs. Kong, but of course the classic kaiju didn’t even get a cameo. In the end, Godzilla vs. Kong was better for limiting its Titans and avoiding Rodan, as it allowed the film to focus on the rivalry shared by the two MonsterVerse alphas. Not only that, but Godzilla vs. Kong was always meant to be a one-on-one conflict. Adding in Rodan (who would most likely be on Godzilla’s side) would shift the odds even further in his favor. Godzilla vs. Kong 2, on the other hand, could benefit from Rodan’s inclusion, especially since the movie needs more monsters in order to make it unique from its predecessor.
While it was important for Godzilla vs. Kong to tell a story that was just about the two warring alphas, the sequel doesn’t have to maintain the same restrictions. To get the most out of a Godzilla vs King Kong story, Legendary needed to devote a full movie to their rivalry – and the 2021 film succeeded in doing just that. However, it’s not necessary for Godzilla vs. Kong 2 to do the same. Instead, it should feature the monsters that couldn’t have fit into the first crossover, like Rodan. By using Rodan, Godzilla vs. Kong 2 can fulfill King of the Monsters’ setup, which hinted at the King of the Skies becoming an ally to Godzilla in a future MonsterVerse movie. That team-up can finally become a reality in Godzilla vs. Kong 2.
In Godzilla vs. Kong 2, Legendary can freely include Rodan without worrying about the Titan interrupting Godzilla and Kong’s grudge match. Godzilla vs. Kong resolved the debate over which one would win, so the MonsterVerse no longer needs to keep the playing field even. Now, it can start throwing in new and existing monsters and kick off a large-scale Titan War.
