A new film featuring Godzilla joining forces with Kong will hit Chinese theaters on Friday. Fala Chen, a Chinese-American actress who was involved in the production of this cinematic spectacle, spoke
Fala Chen as Iwi Queen in "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire." [Photo courtesy of Legendary East]
A much-anticipated monster film directed by Adam Wingard, "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," is a sequel to "Godzilla vs. Kong" (2021). In this new installment, the mighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla unite against a colossal threat that originates from Hollow Earth, Kong's homeland, and threatens the existence of Kong's and Godzilla's species as well as humanity's continued survival. The film delves into the origins of the Titans and Skull Island, and explores an ancient Titan battle that intertwined the fates of humans and monsters.
Fala Chen, 42, a Chengdu-born actress who immigrated to the United States during her adolescence, was cast to play the Iwi Queen in the film. Chen portrays a wise, knowledgeable and commanding figure who is likely to be centuries old, as all the monsters on Hollow Earth live for hundreds or thousands of years.
"I was really taken aback by the offer because I had no idea what I was getting myself into," Chen told China.org.cn. After doing extensive research, she flew to Australia with an open mind to see how the film creators would familiarize her to this brand-new world. "So, when they presented the initial drawings of the world in our early meetings, the sheer size of the palaces and the kingdom really blew me away."
The actress said she grew up watching a lot of Godzilla and Kong movies. After receiving the call from the producers and Adam Wingard, Chen immediately rewatched these cinematic pieces in the hopes of gathering ideas and an understanding of what she was getting herself into. Besides rewatching Godzilla and Kong classics, Chen also conducted extensive research into the MonsterVerse, aliens, UFOs, Hollow Earth, gravity and telepathy. When filming began, Chen was fully prepared, having worked out her character's body gestures and how to present telepathy.
The Chinese-American actress described the set as being full of goofball fun and laughter, to the point where "not laughing out loud" became one of the most challenging tasks on set. She also mentioned the adoration among the crew and how everyone was very supportive.
Godzilla and Kong movies are well-received in the Chinese market. The last installment "Godzilla vs. Kong" earned a staggering 1.23 billion yuan in the Chinese market and $470 million worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. After being made available for streaming, "Godzilla vs. Kong" became one of the most successful blockbusters in HBO Max history.
"Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" will be released in China on March 29 and has witnessed a surge at the box office in ticket presales exceeding 40 million yuan by Thursday — an extraordinary feat for a foreign film in the current market.
An IMAX poster for "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire." [Image courtesy of Legendary East]
In "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," there will be many new monsters and breathtaking fights among the titans. "I think everyone will love it," Chen stated. "Especially if you love the MonsterVerse, this is just a feast of sensations, with lots of action. You will definitely fall in love again with all these beautiful, intelligent creatures. And you will meet mini Kong, so cool, and other gigantic, even bigger monsters. So, you're in for a treat."
"I'm definitely Team Kong," she added. "He's been kind of the protector of us. And we've been protecting him... we definitely have a very close relationship."
