Although Fala Chen teams up with the giant Kong to fight a huge hidden creature in “Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire,” a tiny monster approached her in the premiere.
“I was stung by a bee, but it’s okay,” Chen said. “I noticed it on the carpet and thought ‘Oh, there’s a bee, I should try to eliminate it’, and then it stung me.”
The TCL Chinese Language Theater and a portion of Hollywood Boulevard were transformed into a jungle paradise on Monday for the film’s premiere. The black carpet was surrounded by fake foliage, reminiscent of Kong’s home, Cranium Island.
Chen, known for her role as Jiang Li in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” said Selection that she had fun playing her character Iwi Queen, who commands the Iwi tribe that when inhabited Terra Hole and Cranium Island and communicates telepathically: “I don’t have many lineages, it’s just through like my physical language. It was a big deal, but it’s also really fun to have a different way of talking.”
She shared that during the filming process she practiced her nonverbal communication skills with co-star Kaylee Hottle, who is deaf and fluent in American Sign Language. Chen mentioned that Hottle helped her learn to be extremely attentive and current in her personal communication.
Hottle, who plays Jia, a young Iwi native who bonds with Kong, said Selection that she was grateful to work with the cast members of “Godzilla vs. Kong” from 2021 again.
“Of course I was nervous, but I was also very relieved because they are very easy to work with and get along with,” Hottle said.
Brian Tyree Henry, who plays coach and whistleblower Bernie Hayes, said he woke up every day during filming not knowing what might be in store. With Godzilla and Kong not added until post-production, he really wanted to promote how colossal the creatures are.
“Scream as long and hard as possible,” said Henry. “Make (the audience) really feel like your life is threatened and make sure they feel the fear that’s going through you and you know, stick your neck out as much as possible.”
The film follows its precursor with an all-new journey where Kong and Godzilla unite against an unknown threat hiding in their world. “Godzilla vs. Kong: The New Empire” delves further into the stories of these Titans and their origins, as well as the mysteries of Cranium Island and the past, while revealing the mythical battle that helped form the beings.
Dan Stevens, who plays Trapper, advised Selection that Henry’s screams when they were filming in the jungle and exposed to snakes and insects were a strong memory for him: “His screams of terror will stay with me for a long, long time.”
Adam Wingard at the World Premiere of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” held at the TCL Chinese Language Theater on March 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Michael Buckner for selection
Adam Wingard, the film’s director, advised Selection that he had wanted to see a monster film thought from the monster’s point of view since he was a child, which made an impression on much of the film.
He said that John Carpenter’s “They Stay” was another influence on him when directing: “The best scenes in this movie are the heroes fighting each other. It’s not a battle of hero versus villain,” he said. “It’s two heroes fighting each other because of some kind of misunderstanding. That was a big inspiration for my strategy with Godzilla and Kong because they’re both great guys, but it’s not going to be easy to get them to get along.
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is now in theaters.