Jurassic World Writer Boards Kong: Skull Island

It seems that working on the script for Universal’s monster smash ‘Jurassic World’ must have given screenwriter Derek Connolly a taste for all things monstrous.

The Hollywood Reporter tells us that Connolly has been hired to do rewrites on Max Borenstein’s script for ‘Kong: Skull Island,’ a fresh take on the 1933 giant ape classic which started it all, which is also being produced by Universal and production house Legendary Entertainment.

Reportedly Connolly won’t have long to get the job done, as the film is set to begin shooting in October, with locations said to include Hawaii, Vietnam and Iceland.

- Jurassic World 3rd Biggest Hit Ever
- Brie Lason Joins Kong: Skull Island
- Godzilla Sequel Will Be ‘Bigger & Better’

Jordan Vogt-Roberts is directing the film, with Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson and Corey Hawkins confirmed to appear. Michael Keaton and JK Simmons had been set to star but were forced to withdraw over scheduling conflicts; it us not yet known who will replace them. Indeed, it seems likely these rewrites may involve remodeling the characters to suit new stars.

Connolly came aboard ‘Jurassic World’ thanks largely to his relationship with director Colin Trevorrow, having penned Trevorrow’s breakthrough indie movie ‘Safety Not Guaranteed.’ The duo will reunite on sci-fi movie ‘Intelligent Life.’

Connolly has also written upcoming Paramount animated movie ‘Monster Trucks.’ (Yep, more monsters of a kind…)

There have been seven ‘King Kong’ movies in total to date. The 1933 original spawned a little-seen sequel ‘Son of Kong’ the same year, then 29 years later the giant ape returned in Japanese production ‘King Kong vs. Godzilla’ - which in turn spawned 1967 spin-off ‘King Kong Escapes.’

Most famously, the film was remade twice, firstly in 1976 by director John Guillerman (which spawned 1986 sequel ‘King Kong Lives’), and finally in 2005 by Peter Jackson.

Thought to be a whole new start for the ‘Kong’ franchise, ‘Kong: Skull Island’ reportedly centres on “a team of explorers [who] venture into the mysterious, creature-laden isle that is also the home of the king of the apes.” Not that we were expecting otherwise.

‘Kong: Skull Island’ is due in cinemas in March 2017.

- Possible Plot For Jurassic World Sequel
- Prometheus 2 Coming Before Alien 5?
- Charlie Hunnam Admits Pacific Rim Disappointments

Picture Credit: Universal, AP Images