Kong Skull Island

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The island functions as a natural preserve for species long extinct elsewhere, maintained by an ecological balance enforced by its apex predator. Kong acts not merely as a resident but as a guardian, keeping the more dangerous entities like the Skullcrawlers in check. This dynamic creates a tense ecosystem where beauty and brutality coexist under the watch of a giant ape. The Iwi natives believe when Kong dies, a larger Skullcrawler will awaken and ravage the island. Human history on the island is marked by failed expeditions and brief encounters that often end in tragedy. In 1944, two World War II fighter pilots, American pilot Hank Marlow and Japanese pilot Gunpei Ikari, parachuted onto the island after a dogfight and engaged in close combat until interrupted by a giant ape. Marlow and Ikari became friends during their time on the island, but Ikari was killed by a Skullcrawler some time ago. Marlow was stranded on Skull Island for nearly 29 years since World War II. In the film, Bill Randa, head of the organization Monarch, convinces the government to allow him to lead a research expedition to the recently discovered Skull Island. The expedition includes a U.S. Army unit commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard, tracker and former British Special Air Service Captain James Conrad, and anti-war photographer Mason Weaver. The group encounters Kong and various monsters, leading to a confrontation that reveals Kong's role as protector of the island.

In Their Own Story

In 1973, a research expedition arrives at Skull Island. Packard's men begin dropping seismic explosives to map out the island and prove seismologist Houston Brooks's Hollow Earth theory. The unit is suddenly attacked by the giant ape Kong, scattering the survivors across the island. Conrad's group encounters the local Iwi natives and an older Marlow, who tells them about Kong and the Skullcrawlers. The group learns that the bombing awakened the Skullcrawlers, which are responsible for killing Kong's entire species, leaving him as the last of his kind. While Chapman is ambushed and devoured by a Skullcrawler, Conrad's group helps Marlow finish a boat made from parts of Marlow's and Ikari's downed planes. They ride down the river, where Nieves is torn apart by carnivorous birds. When they regroup with Packard, he insists on searching for Chapman. Marlow leads them through a mass grave of dinosaurs and Kong's family members. The Skullcrawler that killed Chapman attacks them, killing Bill and other soldiers before Weaver triggers a flammable gas explosion that kills it. Packard reveals his plan to kill Kong and avenge his fallen men. Marlow and Brooks attempt to explain that killing Kong would lead to the Skullcrawlers running rampant, but Packard refuses to listen. Packard's group lures Kong with the remaining seismic charges and incapacitates him with ignited napalm. Conrad, Weaver, and Marlow intervene and persuade the other soldiers to spare Kong, but Packard refuses to yield. The larger Skullcrawler finally emerges from the lake, forcing everyone but Packard to retreat. Kong crushes Packard, then kills the Skullcrawler with the humans' help. The survivors reach the rendezvous point and leave the island as Kong stoically watches.

Reader's Guide

The legend of Skull Island began in the 2017 film *Kong: Skull Island*, directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. The film is a reboot of the King Kong franchise, the second film in Legendary's Monsterverse franchise, and the eighth film in the King Kong franchise. Principal photography began in October 2015 in Hawaii and various locations around Vietnam and ended in March 2016. In the film, Kong is portrayed as a 104 feet (31.7 m)-tall ape who is the last of his kind and is worshiped as the king and god on Skull Island by the Iwi natives. Terry Notary performed the motion capture for Kong, stating that this Kong is an adolescent, and he tried to play Kong like a "14-year-old that's trapped in the life of an adult." Toby Kebbell also provided some facial references for Kong. The film was theatrically released on March 10, 2017 to generally positive reviews from critics. It was a box office success, grossing $569 million against a $185 million budget, and received a nomination for Best Visual Effects at the 90th Academy Awards. A sequel, *Godzilla vs. Kong*, was released in 2021, and an animated series, *Skull Island*, was released in 2023.

Did You Know?

• Kong is 104 feet (31.7 m) tall in the film, and Terry Notary played him as a '14-year-old that's trapped in the life of an adult'.
• The film was announced in July 2014 at San Diego Comic-Con, and Jordan Vogt-Roberts was announced as director in September 2014.
• Principal photography began in October 2015 in Hawaii and various locations around Vietnam and ended in March 2016.
• The film grossed $569 million against a $185 million budget and received a nomination for Best Visual Effects at the 90th Academy Awards.
• In a post-credits scene, archive footage of cave paintings depicts Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah.