Legendary Pictures has adjusted their upcoming schedule, retitling Skull Island to Kong: Skull Island and moving the release from November 4, 2016 to March 10, 2017. The previously undated Untitled Great Wall Project will now see release on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 domestically.
Kong: Skull Island will now open the same day as 20th Century Fox’s animated Mumbai Musical and just one week after James Mangold’s untitled Wolverine sequel. The following plot synopsis has also been revealed, which teases a “new, distinct timeline” for the King Kong franchise:
In the spirit of its worldwide blockbuster Godzilla, Legendary Pictures presents a bold new take on the mythos of another iconic beast with Kong: Skull Island, which stars Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers and Thor series).
Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts (The Kings of Summer) and written by John Gatins (Flight) and Max Borenstein (Godzilla), Kong: Skull Island will fully immerse audiences in the mysterious and dangerous home of the king of the apes as a team of explorers ventures deep inside the treacherous, primordial island. Legendary’s story honors the foundations of existing King Kong lore, but places it in an entirely new, distinct timeline.
Thomas Tull (Godzilla, The Dark Knight, Pacific Rim) and Jon Jashni (Godzilla, Warcraft) will produce and Alex Garcia (Godzilla) will executive produce. The film will be released in 3D and IMAX 3D by Universal Pictures.
The Great Wall, meanwhile, opens opposite Disney’s animated Moana and has been given the following official synopsis:
Directed by Zhang Yimou (Hero, House of Flying Daggers), the Untitled Great Wall Project tells the story of an elite force making a last stand for humanity on the world’s most iconic structure.
The first English language production for Yimou is also set to be the largest film ever shot entirely in China. Production is set to begin in Spring 2015. It will be released in the U.S. in 3D by Universal Pictures with the goal of being released in China in early December 2016.
