In the run up to the release of Godzilla vs. Kong, the main topic of conversation was which of the two alpha Titans would ultimately emerge victorious. Unusually for Western ‘vs’ movies, a definitive winner was depicted, and director Adam Wingard has now addressed the circumstances of the selection being made.
In a Reddit AMA, Wingard was asked how consistent was the choice to show Godzilla as the overall victor, and replied that in every draft of the script this remained the same, with it never being something that was ever consisted for alteration. He was also queried on who actually made the decision, whether it was what he planned to do or if it was a mandate handed down by the studio, and revealed that while the result put to screen was the one he originally envisioned, right from the start of production Legendary agreed with him, so it was one aspect of the script that he didn’t have to fight them on.
Of course, it was inevitable that not everyone watching the film agreed with the ending and would have preferred for Kong to lift the gold. But as Wingard succinctly put it during the session: “Godzilla won the fight; Kong won the movie.” And that’s certainly a fair assessment.
In any case, while Godzilla might outmatch Kong in raw power, the ape lord is demonstrated to be a more skilled fighter. And though the main issue of Godzilla vs. Kong has been decidedly addressed in favor of the former, it does so in such a way that doesn’t diminish the standing of either Titan, allowing both to emerge with their dignity and respect intact.