Zhang Ziyi will take on a major role in upcoming film Godzilla: King Of The Monsters.
The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon actress has signed a deal to star in the sequel to 2014’s Godzilla and will also appear in further films within the monster movie franchise created by Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros.
Little is known about what character Zhang will play, but she is likely to appear as a figure within the secretive scientific Monarch organiZation, which was mentioned in the first film as well as the recently released Kong: Skull Island.
While plot details for Godzilla: King of the Monsters remain under wraps, a number of cast members have already been announced, including Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Ken Watanabe, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Aisha Hinds.
The film is being directed by Michael Dougherty from a script he wrote alongside Max Borenstein and Zach Shields.
Zhang’s casting comes shortly after it was announced that Adam Wingard has been tapped to direct blockbuster Godzilla vs. Kong, another film in the wider “monsterverse” being brought to life by Legendary and Warner Bros.
The selection of Zhang in a starring role is no doubt a smart choice, considering the 38-year-old is one of the most popular celebrities in China. Her credits include Memoirs of a Geisha, House Of Flying Daggers and The Grandmaster and Hero, and she recently finished shooting God Particle, the sci-fi thriller produced by J. J. Abrams that is connected to his Cloverfield movies. It is scheduled for release in October (17).
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is slated for release on 22 March 2019, while Godzilla vs Kong is expected to hit theaters in 2020.
