Apple TV announces ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ spin-off

Following the success of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Apple confirmed today that it is expanding Legendary’s Monsterverse with a new spin-off series for Apple TV. Here are the details.

Legendary’s Monsterverse expands under Apple TV

Last month, Apple announced that Monarch: Legacy of Monsters would return for its second season on February 27, 2026. Today, the company announced an expansion of the franchise, with a new untitled prequel series centered on Colonel Lee Shaw, to be played by Wyatt Russell.

Here’s Apple on what to expect from the new show:

Starring and executive produced by 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.

The new prequel will be helmed by Joby Harold, who also serves as executive producer of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. Apple says a new overall deal with Legendary will expand Harold’s role to overseeing the Monsterverse on Apple TV, spanning new and fan-favorite Titans.

Here’s Harold on today’s announcement:

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.

And here’s Morgan Wandell, head of international content development for Apple TV:

Viewers around the world haven’t been able to get enough of ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ since its global debut, and we cannot wait to unleash the electrifying new stories that Joby and the entire cast and creative team have been working on. (…) With Joby at the helm, and alongside our terrific partners at Legendary, this new spinoff will kick off an epic Monsterverse expansion that brings audiences even closer to their favorite Titans along with fantastic character-driven storytelling.

To the uninitiated, as Apple explains it, “Legendary’s Monsterverse is an expansive cross-platform story universe centered on humanity’s battle to survive in a world facing a catastrophic new reality — the monsters of our myths and legends are real.”

Alongside Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Monsterverse titles include Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Kong, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and the upcoming sequel Godzilla x Kong: Supernova.

Apple hasn’t shared a release date or premiere window for the new spin-off just yet, nor any details on when production might begin.

Apple TV is available for $12.99 per month and features hit TV shows and movies like F1 The Movie, Pluribus, Severance, The Studio, The Morning Show, Shrinking and Silo.