|
SPOILER WARNING: This section may contain major plot and/or ending details. Proceed at your own discretion. |
|---|
The Skar King[2] was a primate Titan created by Legendary Pictures that appeared in and served as one of the two main antagonists (alongside Shimo) of the 2024 film, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. An archaic Titan that reigned dominant over the Kong species of the Hollow Earth, the Skar King launched a violent assault on Earth's surface to conquer it thousands of years ago. Upon his defeat by the hands of Godzilla, the Skar King was imprisoned in the subterranean realm of the Hollow Earth, forced to lie in wait for the day when he would finally escape his confines and claim the Earth as his own. He was eventually killed through the combined efforts of Godzilla, Kong, and Shimo.
Name[]
In a post by the official Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Instagram page, the creature's name was revealed to be "Skar King".[2]
The word "Skar" also translates into "cleft" or "mountain pass" in Old Norse, and "wild" in Scottish English.
Design[]
Development[]
According to Adam Wingard, the Skar King was created as a sort of "anti-Kong",[3] an upscaled version of the worst parts of humanity, as opposed to the best parts that Kong represents. Unlike most villains in the MonsterVerse, the Skar King's personality has a human aspect to it, one of tyranny, cruelty, and other negative traits found in humans. This was intended to juxtapose the danger of humanity to monsters, as Wingard explained, "...the Skar King is, in a way, the closest that the human threat has ever been juxtaposed onto a titan itself".[4] These traits were meant to make him scarier than other monsters, as he is consciously making the decision to perform cruel deeds,[3] and is motivated by maligned human traits, such as greed.
The Skar King's design was modeled after real-world species of apes. In earlier concepts, the Skar King had a heavyset gorilla-like appearance with tribal, aboriginal-esque attire. In order to distinguish him from other simian monsters like Kong, creature designer Jared Krichevsky referenced species of hairless apes and gibbons, primarily their lanky body features, when making the Skar King's appearance.[5]
Appearance[]
The Skar King is a gigantic primate with an appearance quite similar to that of Kong, but with a smaller head and a slender, albeit muscular and elongated orangutan-like physique that is characterized by his lengthy arms and legs, a slight pronounced hunchback, and a small scar on his right brow. He has pale white skin, and his body is predominantly covered in thick, reddish fur, except for his face, scalp, upper torso, inner arms, forearms, hands, and feet, and he has grown hair down each side of his jawbone, reminiscing to that of mutton chops. Notably, his eyes emit a gentle, luminous blue glow, and he adorns his face and parts of his body in faded red war paint.
Portrayal[]
Allan Henry provided the motion capture for the Skar King.
Roar[]
It is observed that the Skar King emits a deep, resonant roar that bears a resemblance to Kong's roar, albeit with a slightly lower pitch.
Personality[]
The Skar King was described as the embodiment of humanity's worst aspects. He was a sadistic, cruel tyrant who took pleasure in the mistreatment of Suko, Shimo, and the other apes under his rule, relishing their suffering. He branded the individuals and the locations he claimed with bloody handprints to show that they had become his properties.
The Skar King's cruelty held almost no bounds and even rivaled that of the late Ghidorah. The fear and abuse he demonstrated to his fellow apes was such that they eventually reacted instinctively terrified whenever he would rise off his throne; Suko in particular was shown to fear that he would be beaten or bitten by the Skar King whenever summoned by him. In the novelization, it is implied that Skar King would regularly starve his underlings and slaves to keep them in line, only rewarding them with food if they did as he commanded. Despite briefly restraining himself from harming Suko due to the intervention of a protective ape, his inherent cruelty resurfaces as he callously kicks the ape into the lava, demonstrating the depths of his malevolence. Furthermore, he shows no regard for the well-being of his mates and children, cruelly flinging food at them, instilling fear and terror in their hearts. This cruelty additionally extends to humans, as when the Skar King surfaces in Rio De Janeiro, he lets out a fearsome bellow to purposely frighten hundreds of beach-goers and causes them to flee, in which he is visibly amused by. His cruelty was such that by the time Kong discovered the Skar King's lair, the entire tribe of apes beyond his most loyal followers were ready to follow another king that might be able to overthrow him, showing that his malevolent nature was pushing the other great apes to the limits of what treatment they could endure.
The Skar King was also ambitious and determined in his goal to conquer the surface world. Despite his narcissistic personality, he was a formidable leader and was able to subjugate hundreds of apes to do his bidding. Additionally, he entrusted several like-minded apes with leadership positions called the Red Stripes and granted them unique red markings on their bodies, which gave them command over small groups of subservient apes. Through these lieutenants, the Skar King was able to perform effective reconnaissance throughout the Hollow Earth, eliminating potential threats and mapping possible vortexes to the surface world without having to leave his throne room. The Skar King was additionally a fearless combatant, using his lithe physique to dodge attacks and throw off the balance of enemies. His adept use of his Whipslash allowed him to fight from a distance without the risk of injuring himself up close. When overwhelmed, he would frequently call upon Shimo or his warriors to eliminate his enemies, showcasing a propensity to use others to accomplish tasks he cannot do on his own.
As revealed in the novelization for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, the Skar King was also implied to be slowly going insane in his old age, and as a result of his growing insanity, he became unpredictable, going from calm and collected to violent in moments, which partially explains his shift to aggression when Suko was half-heartedly laughing.
Owing to the Skar King's history as a seasoned warrior, he enjoyed fighting, as he was seen laughing multiple times during his fights with Kong and in Rio de Janeiro. Similar to this, he exhibited a twisted sense of humor, evident in his mocking behavior about Kong's metal tooth and his enjoyment at having Kong at the mercy of Shimo.
Origins[]
The Skar King was an ambitious ape from the Hollow Earth that, at some point in the ancient past, became obsessed with conquering the surface world. To further his goals, the Skar King enslaved hundreds of apes of the Titanus Kong species to act as his personal army. The Skar King also kept all the female apes for himself as concubines who will bear his offspring. Additionally, at some point in time, the Skar King enslaved the ancient ice Titan, Shimo, using a special crystal that would cause her to become enthralled. Using Shimo's frost abilities, the Skar King started the last great Ice Age and launched an invasion to the surface world, waging war against Godzilla and the other Titans in the process. After a great battle, Godzilla imprisoned the Skar King and the remnants of his army in the depths of the Hollow Earth.
History[]
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire[]
Eons after his initial defeat at the hands of Godzilla, the Skar King would later be freed due to a sinkhole accidentally created by Kong as he was hunting Wart Dogs. Seeing an opening to his cavernous prison, the Skar King attacked and branded the nearby Monarch Outpost 1 before sending a quartet of scouts consisting of One-Eye and Suko to survey the area. The group would eventually encounter and attack Kong, who fought back ferociously. Although he had managed to kill two of the scouts and capture Suko, Kong was unable to stop a surviving scout from returning to Skar King's stronghold. Wanting to investigate further, Kong ordered the juvenile Suko to bring him back where he came from, and Suko reluctantly agreed. After a lengthy journey, Suko eventually brought Kong to the Skar King's stronghold. As Kong entered, he saved a struggling ape from one of the Skar King's slavers, knocking him out. When One-Eye recognized Kong, the former reported the situation to the Skar King. The Skar King personally went down from his throne room to inspect Kong.
After the Skar King noticed Kong sported a prosthetic tooth, he laughed and mocked the ape and the others joined him. After he realized Suko was only half-heartedly mocking him, he threatened the young ape who was saved by an elderly male named Gnarled Finger. Feigning he had relented, the Skar King gave Kong an evil smirk before he callously kicked the elder into a pool of lava, causing Suko to cry out in anguish and grief and Kong to angrily challenge the heartless tyrant. The Skar King proceeded to fight Kong and had the upper hand, with his Whipslash's greater reach and his greater agility and dexterity, even almost managing to choke Kong into submission until his larger and younger adversary managed to break free and slammed the tyrant against the ground. When his minions attempted to intervene, Skar King stopped them and instead opted to use his secret weapon against Kong: Shimo. After the ape slaves blocked the lavafall hiding the Ice Titan, the Skar King used the crystal on his whip to force Shimo into using her frost bite blast on Kong. Shimo managed to give Kong severe frostbite on his right arm and cost him his battle axe, which the Skar King acquired as a trophy. The Skar King sent One-Eye and a group of Red Stripes to chase down Kong, who managed to escape.
Later, the Skar King was feasting in his throne room when One-Eye reported that he had found the Iwi city of Malenka, and told him about the gateways leading to the surface world. The Skar King, seeing his opportunity to restart his conquest had finally come, took a handful of Red Stripes as well as Shimo and headed out to Malenka, carrying Kong's axe with him. Eventually, the Skar King and his small army arrived at Malenka where they were distracted by Trapper using a flock of Vertacines. Soon enough, Godzilla and Kong (who had a brief fight and came to an alliance on the surface world) arrived in the Hollow Earth and charged into battle against the Skar King and Shimo, only to be sent floating by an anti-gravity shockwave created by Iwi pyramids. The four Titans battled in mid-air while Mothra dispatched the Skar King's troops with her silk. Afterwards, when gravity returned, the Skar King leapt for a nearby Hollow Earth portal with Kong, Shimo, and Godzilla not too far behind.
The four Titans then emerged in Rio De Janeiro. Realizing he was on the surface world at last, the Skar King sadistically smirked and roared at the human masses beneath him. He then forced Shimo to bring about a new Ice Age, freezing the clouds above bringing the first snow fall in South America. However, he was then suckerpunched by Kong, while Shimo was blasted back by Godzilla, knocking a tooth out of his mouth and eliciting some mockery from the brown ape for his own mocking earlier. The four Titans then continued their battle in the city, seeing he was losing, the Skar King sicced Shimo on Kong, but it left him vulnerable to Godzilla as the King of the Monsters blasted his atomic breath at the ape, forcing him to flee. He attempted to use his Whipslash on the Titan, only for Godzilla to catch it in his jaws and throw him aside. Upon breaking the Whipslash, the crystal the Skar King used to control Shimo broke loose. While Godzilla held off Shimo, the Skar King and Kong struggled over the crystal until Suko arrived with Kong's axe and shattered it, causing a massive shockwave that sent him, the Skar King, Kong, Godzilla and Shimo flying from the blast wave.
Enraged at the little Titan for destroying his power, the Skar King grabbed Suko and attempted to strangle him until he was knocked to the ground by a punch from Kong. Without his crystal, Whip, or army, the Skar King was nothing more than a punching bag for Kong as the former King of Skull Island threw the red ape at Godzilla, who smacked him back to Kong with his tail and was then lifted helplessly into the air by Kong. Godzilla ordered Shimo to blast the Skar King with her frost bite Blast, which she gladly obliged as revenge for countless years of abuse at his hands, and froze the would-be conqueror almost solid with only his right eye being able to move.
All the Skar King could do was watch helplessly as Kong stared angrily at him before throwing the frozen tyrant to the ground and shattering him into a million pieces, ending his reign once and for all.
Abilities[]
Carnivorous diet[]
Like Kong, the Skar King is capable of feasting on the flesh of other Titans as his sole source for sustenance.
Durability[]
The Skar King possesses exceptional resilience in enduring a fierce and brutal confrontation with Kong. Furthermore, he endures a powerful strike from Kong's formidable B.E.A.S.T. Glove, albeit losing a tooth in the process, and withstand a shot from Godzilla's enhanced atomic breath.
Intelligence[]
Demonstrating an exceptional level of intellect, the Skar King exhibits human-like cognitive abilities that enable him to perceive and analyze situations with remarkable acuity. He employs his keen observational skills to formulate meticulous plans, as evidenced by his strategic use of specially crafted Titan spinal columns as restraining chains to subjugate Shimo effectively. With astute insight, the Skar King discerns Kong's unique characteristic of possessing a metallic tooth, recognizing it as an intriguing anomaly. His swift cognitive abilities allow him to promptly deduce that it was Suko who brought Kong to his cave, showcasing his sharp deductive reasoning. Furthermore, the Skar King possesses a deep understanding of Shimo's powers, leveraging this knowledge in an attempt to initiate a new Ice Age. He also demonstrates an understanding of the properties of large touch crystals, acknowledging their potential to generate gravitational force, and cleverly employs Shimo's frost bite blast to counteract their effects.
Longevity[]
The Skar King is depicted as having been the instigator of the conflict between Godzilla and the Great Apes that took place in ancient times before his defeat and imprisonment. This would make him hundreds, if not thousands, of years old.
Speed and agility[]
The Skar King leaps down from his throne.
Like Kong, the Skar King is shown to use his simian physiology to leap over long distances without issue. While Kong relies on his strength, the Skar King can utilize his speed in combat and in evading attacks. He can also dodge the swings from Kong's battle axe and Godzilla's enhanced atomic breath.
Strength and combat[]
The Skar King was described as being a fearsome warrior when he was young. It is stated that he almost managed to overpower Godzilla before he and his tribe were ultimate,ly defeated. In his battle with Kong, he was able to out manuverer his younger opponent, score some good hits and nearly choked him. And during the Zero Gravity fight, he is also shown to be more than capable of fighting with no Gravity.
Subjugation[]
Through the crystal blade at the end of the Whipslash, the Skar King can control Shimo, manipulating her actions to serve his purposes, despite the latter showing momentary resistance.
Weapon proficiency[]
While the Skar King is able to use his Whipslash effectively, he is almost helpless without it. During the battle in Rio de Janeiro, after Godzilla destroyed his weapon and broke the crystal off, the Skar King is mostly focused on dodging Godzilla and Kong's attacks while trying to get his crystal. After Suko destroyed the crystal, he was left at the mercy of the two Alpha Titans, knocked around like a ragdoll before Shimo froze him.
Weaknesses[]
Lack of bodily armor[]
Like Kong and the rest of his species, the Skar King's lack of bodily armor makes him much less durable than Titans such as Godzilla, as he needed to dodge Godzilla's atomic breath to survive it and yelped in pain when it grazed his back.
Shimo's frost bite blast[]
After Suko destroyed the crystal controlling Shimo, the Skar King's control over her was broken. This caused him to become completely vulnerable to Shimo's frost bite blast, allowing her to freeze him before Kong kills him by smashing him into pieces.
Weak physique[]
While incredibly strong, the Skar King's physique is inferior compared to that of Kong and Godzilla, which makes him rely more on his cunning and fighting skills than brute strength. This possibly could've been caused by old age, as its heavily implied the Skar King is several millennia old and implying his strength may have diminished due to his old age. While fighting Kong, the Skar King was inevitably overpowered, leading him to rely on Shimo to defeat Kong. He also is far outmatched by the evolved Godzilla, as shown when the Titan flung him away effortlessly when he caught the Whipslash in his jaws.
Weapon dependency[]
While the Skar King is able to use his Whipslash effectively, he is almost helpless without it. In the battle in Rio de Janeiro, after Godzilla destroyed the Whipslash, the Skar King mostly depended on dodging the King of the Monsters' attacks before being effortlessly knocked around by him and Kong.
Equipment[]
The Skar King wields a weapon called the Whipslash, a Warbat's spinal column connected to its lower mandible that's placed across his torso from the right shoulder downward like a sash. The tip of the Whiplash is adorned with a blue crystalline blade, which is used to control Shimo as well as slash enemies in combat.
The Skar King briefly acquires and makes use of Kong's battle axe before it is taken back by Kong.
List of appearances[]
Films[]
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (First appearance)
Novels[]
Games[]
Trivia[]
- The initial marketing for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire implies that the red handprints seen in Kong: Skull Island and in Godzilla vs. Kong were the Skar King's.[6]
- Many of the infant Great Apes have reddish orange fur, indicating they are the Skar King's offspring. Suko also has this color of fur, which may imply the Skar King is his biological father.
- According to the film's novelization, the Skar King prevented any other members of his Great Ape tribe from breeding, ensuring all offspring were his and his alone so that his bloodline would continue after his death.
- Unlike the other Great Apes, the Skar King's eyes glow blue, which could be due to the fact that he is a species separate from the Great Apes' genus.
References[]
- ↑ https://weibo.com/6109987426/O44RI6oa6
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 godzillaxkong (29 November 2023). "Bow to your new king. #SkarKing #GodzillaXKong". Instagram.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Godzilla x Kong (March 30, 2024). What makes Skar King different from any other villain in the Monsterverse? (Video). Instagram.
- ↑ Graham, Jamie (January 4, 2024). Godzilla x Kong director teases mysterious villain the Skar King: "The greatest threat we’ve seen in these movies". Total Film.
- ↑ Krichevsky, Jared (May 14, 2024). @CamSS1967 @Legendary @LegacyEffects I looked at a lot of hairless apes and Gibbons. I specifically love their long and lanky skeletons.. Twitter.
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/godzillaxkong/
| v • eGodzilla x Kong: The New Empire | |
|---|---|
| Film | |
| Kaiju | • • • • •
|
| Cast and characters | (Rebecca Hall) • Jia (Kaylee Hottle) • Bernie Hayes (Brian Tyree Henry) • Trapper (Dan Stevens) • Mikael (Alex Ferns) • Iwi Queen (Fala Chen) • Hampton (Rachel House) |
| Locations | Africa (Egypt) • America (Brazil) • Hollow Earth |
| Organizations | Monarch |
| Staff | Adam Wingard • Mary Parent • Alex Garcia • Eric McLeod • Brian Rogers • Kenji Okuhira • Yoshimitsu Banno • Jon Jashni • Thomas Tull • Terry Rossio • Michael Dougherty • Zach Shields • Josh Schaeffer • Owen Patterson • Tom Hammock • Ben Seresin • John DesJardin |
| Books | Godzilla x Kong: The Hunted • Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire - The Official Movie Novelization • The Making of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire |
