According to Variety, the new movie will be based on KING KONG OF SKULL ISLAND, a book that came out right around the time of Peter Jackson’s KING KONG. Because the family of Merian C. Cooper owns the rights to all things KONG and not Universal, they can shop it around get it made with just about anyone if they so choose.
Written by Joe DeVito and Brad Strickland, the book focuses on the backstory of Skull Island and how the giant gorilla became king there. It introduces other giant gorillas and dinosaurs only hinted at in the previous films.
Basically it’s going to be just one giant effects movie. Will there be people to tie a story in there, or simply 90 minutes of giant apes and dinosaurs? Either way producers are planning on using motion capture technology, which was used in other such films as THE POLAR EXPRESS and BEOWULF.
Along with a movie, Spirit Pictures is also going to be developing video games, graphic novels, and a line of toys. Looks like we’re going to have another era of KING KONG mania on our hands!