Kaylee Hottle’s presence in Godzilla X Kong is an important step forward in Hollywood as far as representation of deaf actors go.

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire has hit the theaters amidst lots of expectations and hype. The 5th film of the MonsterVerse franchise which is a follow-up to the 2021 blockbuster, sees Godzilla and Kong reunite to fight an unknown threat hidden within the Earth that poses grave danger to humans and Titans alike.

A still from Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
Apart from having a loyal fan base of MonsterVerse enthusiasts, the film also sees deaf actor Kaylee Hottle reprising her central role from 2021’s Godzilla Vs Kong. Casting a hearing impaired artist in the lead role is an inspiring step towards representation of the deaf community and Hottle is grateful to be part of this effort. Marvel’s Eternals is the other film that cast a deaf actor Lauren Ridloff in the role of Makkari.

Kaylee Hottle On Being A Role Model For the Deaf Community After Her Godzilla Gig

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire is the 5th film in the MonsterVerse series that released in theaters on March 29th, 2024. The action thriller saw deaf movie star Kaylee Hottle reprise her role of the central protagonist Jia, who also has hearing impairment in the film. Back in 2021, this was an inspiring casting choice that went a long way towards the representation of people with disabilities.
Kaylee Hottle in Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire

Hottle for her part, was proud and grateful to be a pioneer and role model for her community. In an interview with The AU Review ahead of the release of the 5th film, the star who did not expect to be called back, was pleasantly surprised to know that she would be reprising her role. Speaking of what it meant to inspire hearing impaired people all over the world, she said,
“I’m acting in monster movies as a deaf person. I want deaf people to know that they can do that too, just like me. There are no limits.”
Marvel’s Eternals was another 2021 film that pioneered a similar action by casting deaf actor Lauren Ridloff in the role of Makkari who is the first deaf superhero to be showcased on the big screen. This was seen as an inspiring move by the franchise. Like Hottle, Ridloff’s performance too struck a chord with audiences worldwide.

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire Has A Rocking Box Office Opening

It was a monster Easter weekend for Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire as the film had an excellent debut at the box office following its release on March 29th, 2024. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film opened to an $80 million collection in its opening weekend while it was predicted to make only between $45 to $55 million.
Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire had a great box office opening
The monster thriller also seems to have surpassed expectations with viewers and MonsterVerse fans across the world. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the Warner Brothers production received an A- rating on CinemaScore, a platform which surveys movie goers and gauges the theatrical appeal of films that is then converted into a grade.

Incidentally, this is the second highest rating for a MonsterVerse film with 2021’s Godzilla Vs Kong getting a grade of A in CinemaScore. Part of its appeal could be due to the introduction of pivotal characters like Skar King, Suko, and Shimo to the MonsterVerse.

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire is currently running in theaters.