The monsters are here on Apple TV+ with the much-anticipated series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. The show was created by Chris Black and developed by Black and Matt Fraction, based on the beloved Godzilla franchise, and it is the sixth installment and the second television series in the MonsterVerse franchise. The story follows members of the organization Monarch as they interact with Godzilla and various other monstrous creations that are dubbed “Titans”. This particular series takes a deep dive into the origin of Monarch and takes place across a decades-spanning timeline.
However, there is a timeline of events that may help viewers piece together the jigsaw puzzle that connects the threads of the story, so if you are a fan, you might want to take a look at where the series fits within the franchise — and keep reading for some behind the scenes information too.
Which timeline in Godzilla is Monarch: Legacy of Monsters set?
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is set right after the reboot of Godzilla in 2014, meaning the series is set after the events of Kong: Skull Island, theatrically released in 2017, and it takes place before Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Godzilla vs. Kong.
The series pretty much unfolds in two timelines, one in the 1950s and one in 2015.
The Monsterverse includes four movies and a Skull Island animated series and came about serendipitously. There was no great plan to create a cinematic universe for the monsters, so Legendary’s adaptation of the classic monsters of Toho Co. is not regarded as a remake but is more of a new take on the premise with the Monarch Organization becoming the caretakers of the giant monsters appearing across the world.
Following the Earth-shattering battle between Godzilla and the Titans that destroyed San Francisco, and the shocking realization that monsters are real, the ten-episode series follows two siblings stepping in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch.
Is Monarch: Legacy of Monsters part of the MonsterVerse Universe?
Yes, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is part of the MonsterVerse. The series has made great effort to layer itself throughout the MonsterVerse and uses the characters and situations from previous films.
The series cleverly links the events together, and fleshes out Monarch, providing an origin and motivation, while expanding on the lore of the monsters and focusing on the fallout from Godzilla.
Is Monarch: Legacy of Monsters a prequel?
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters acts as both prequel and sequel, as it covers a lot of ground between the two timelines.
The series is intricately connected with the first Godzilla movie and also engages with Kong: Skull Island. The debut episode begins in the middle of a Mother Longlegs versus Mantleclaw fight during Kong: Skull Island in 1973.
We then jump to 2013 for a short visit and then the majority of the story occurs in 2015 after Godzilla fought MUTO.
We also get scenes from 1959 and a young Lee Shaw interacting with operatives from Monarch.
If you are a fan of the genre, this series will be must-watch TV, with a cinematic flair and attention to detail that will pay dividends for viewers who have studied the original material.
