Kong: Skull Island Casts John Goodman as Team Leader

John Goodmanhas signed on to star in Warner Bros.‘Kong: Skull Island. He is playing a character named Randa, a government official who leads an expedition, most likely toKing Kong’s homeland. We reported earlier this month that this movie will help set upGodzilla Vs King Kong, which doesn’t have a specific release date but will hit theaters afterGodzilla 2arrives in the summer of 2018.

The story centers on a man (Tom Hiddleston) who travels with an expedition of explorers toSkull Island, the homeland of the legendary ape King Kong. According toDeadline, the story will fully immerse audiences in the mysterious and dangerous home of the king of the apes as a team of explorers ventures deep inside the treacherous, primordial island. This plot is said to honor the foundations of existing King Kong lore, but places it in an entirely new, distinct timeline.

John Goodmanjoins a cast that also includesBrie Larson,Samuel L. Jackson,Tom Wilkinson,Corey Antonio HawkinsandJohn C. Reilly. It isn’t known how many more characters need to be cast in this upcoming action-adventure, which has already been given a March 10, 2017release date. Production is scheduled to begin sometime this fall, but it isn’t known where exactly principal photography will take place.

Jordan Vogt-Robertsis directing from a script byJohn GatinsandMax Borenstein, withJurassic WorldwriterDerek Connollycoming aboard to rewrite the script. Before he bowed out of the project,J.K. Simmonsrevealed thatKong: Skull Islandis aperiod piece, with parts of the movie set in 1970s Detroit. However, this was beforeDerek Connollysigned on to rewrite the script, so it’s possible those aspects of the story have changed.

John Goodmanmost recently starred inThe Gambler, and he also appears in the documentary Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of The National Lampoon, which hits theaters this weekend. The actor will next be seen inTrumbo,Love the Coopersand The Cellar. What do you think aboutJohn Goodmanjoining the cast ofKong: Skull Island? Chime in with your thoughts below.