Legacy of Monsters’ Getting Prequel Spin-off With Wyatt Russell

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters debuts its second season on Apple TV in February, but that isn’t the only Titan series on the horizon, with the streamer announcing today that Wyatt Russell will star in and produce a spin-off series focusing on the early years of Lee Shaw, confirming reports from earlier this year. The new series was developed by Joby Harold, who Apple TV also announced would be overseeing the future of their Monsterverse slate. In Season 1 of Monarch, Russell played the younger Lee Shaw while his real-life father Kurt Russell played the older version of the character. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 premieres on Apple TV on February 27, 2026.

Apple TV described the new series:

Starring and executive produced by Wyatt Russell, the spinoff series will follow the story of Colonel Lee Shaw, an American operative who in 1984 went on a secret mission behind enemy lines in an attempt to stop the Soviets from unleashing a horrific new Titan big enough to destroy the U.S. and turn the tide of the Cold War.

Harold shared in a statement, “I could not feel more privileged to be a part of building out this wildly iconic universe … Apple and Legendary have been exemplary partners throughout this process, and we will continue to bring these Titans of cinematic history to audiences with the reverence they deserve.”

Jason Clodfelter, President and Managing Director at Legendary Television, added:

“Joby is a remarkable storyteller with a deep understanding of what makes the Monsterverse resonate with fans globally … We’re thrilled to bring him and Safehouse Pictures into a broader partnership alongside Apple, marking an exciting new era for the franchise.”

What’s Next for the Monsterverse Franchise?

Wyatt Russell in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

Apple TV+

Garth Edwards officially kicked off the Monsterverse in 2014 with Godzilla, which was followed by 2017’s Kong: Skull Island from Jordan Vogt-Roberts, and then by Michael Dougherty’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 2019. Much like every other iconic property in pop culture, these adventures were merely setting the stage for a massive crossover, which was realized with Adam Wingard’s Godzilla vs. Kong. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, that movie was initially delayed and ultimately hit theaters and HBO Max on the same day in 2021. Despite the impact this took on the film’s box office, it warranted the sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Bringing the larger-than-life characters of Godzilla and Kong together has proven more successful than other shared universes, likely due to moving only one installment at a time. The next big-screen outing will be Godzilla x Kong: Supernova from director Grant Sputore, which is expected in 2027. Between Supernova, Monarch Season 2, and this Lee Shaw spin-off, no other live-action plans have been announced.

In 2023, the animated Skull Island series debuted on Netflix and, while it hasn’t been officially renewed, fans got the comic book series Return to Skull Island earlier this year, and Godzilla has been popping up in a number of comic books in recent years.