Apple TV isn’t done with the Monsterverse, but it may be ready to try something different. After two seasons of giant monsters, family mysteries, and timelines jumping back and forth across decades, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” could be headed for a major creative shake-up, with new writers, a new showrunner, and a different direction for its potential third season.
According to Deadline, Apple TV and Legendary Television are discussing a third season that would introduce new Titans from Legendary’s expanding Monsterverse. More significantly, the producers are looking for a new writing team and showrunner to replace the team behind the first two seasons.
READ MORE: ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’: Apple Orders Wyatt Russell-Led Prequel From Joby Harold
That would mean a changing of the guard for Chris Black, who co-created the series with Matt Fraction and served as showrunner for both seasons. Deadline doesn’t say what prompted the proposed overhaul, but bringing in an entirely new creative team suggests Apple and Legendary want more than a continuation of Season 2.
Of course, there’s a catch: Season 3 hasn’t officially been greenlit. Discussions are still underway, and there’s no word yet on which characters might return, what new Titans could appear, or how much of the existing storyline would carry over.
The news comes nearly six months after the second season concluded on May 1. Starring Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, and Mari Yamamoto, “Monarch” follows the secretive organization that keeps tabs on the giant creatures roaming Legendary’s interconnected franchise. Season 2 brought Godzilla and Kong back into the mix while introducing Titan X, a massive new sea creature.
The show has given Apple a way to explore the Monsterverse beyond the theatrical films, although its increasingly tangled mythology and sprawling family drama haven’t always been the most compelling parts of the experience. As our Season 2 review noted, the series sometimes gets so caught up in its elaborate plotting that it loses sight of what makes the material appealing in the first place. There’s certainly an argument for tightening things up, though it’s unclear whether that’s the idea behind the proposed overhaul. Interestingly, our review of the first season was considerably more enthusiastic about the balance between its human drama and monster spectacle.
Meanwhile, Apple and Legendary have plenty of other Monsterverse projects in development. Their multi-series deal includes several potential spinoffs, with Joby Harold overseeing the broader television franchise alongside producing partner Tory Tunnell through their Safehouse Pictures banner.
The first is an untitled Lee Shaw prequel starring Wyatt Russell, who reprises the younger version of the character his father played in “Monarch.” Set in 1984, the series follows Shaw on a Cold War mission involving a potential Titan catastrophe. Harold serves as showrunner, with J.D. Dillard directing and executive producing.
As previously reported, the spinoff features a sizable cast, including Millie Brady, Pilou Asbæk, Corey Stoll, Ralph Ineson, Connie Nielsen, and Stana Katic.
On the theatrical side, Legendary also has “Godzilla x Kong: Supernova” scheduled for March 26, 2027, so monster business won’t be short on the horizon.
Whether “Monarch” gets its third season remains to be seen, but the search for a new creative team suggests Apple and Legendary are seriously considering how to keep the show going. And with a growing roster of Titans to draw from, they certainly have options.
