Apple TV and Legendary Expand ‘Monsterverse’ Universe With Young Lee Shaw Series Starring Wyatt Russell

Apple TV and Legendary Entertainment are expanding the “Monsterverse” universe, announcing a new show starring Wyatt Russell, who will reprise his role as Colonel Lee Shaw in a prequel series about young Lee Shaw. Writer/producer Joby Harold is set to serve as showrunner on the new series.

Also as part of the news, Harold has sealed an overall deal with Legendary, in which he will oversee the company’s entire “Monsterverse” franchise for Apple TV (“featuring both new and fan-favorite Titans,” it was noted).

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Harold is also executive producer of Apple TV’s and Legendary’s “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” which returns for Season 2 on Feb. 27.

“I could not feel more privileged to be a part of building out this wildly iconic universe,” Harold said. “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.”

The untitled Young Lee Shaw spinoff is just one of what Apple TV is planning as an expanding slate of series coming out of Legendary’s “Monsterverse.” In the case of Young Lee Shaw, which Russell will also exec produce, “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 Young Lee Shaw prequel will be exec produced by Harold and Tory Tunnell for Safehouse Pictures, along with Russell, Chris Black, Kyle Bradstreet, Alex Boden, Max Borenstein and Andy Goddard. Producers include Kei Banno, Brian Rogers and Kenji Okuhira. Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita are executive producers on behalf of Toho Co., Ltd., the owner of the Godzilla character. Legendary has licensed rights for “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” as part of their long-term relationship with Toho on the film franchise.

“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,” Morgan Wandell, head of international development for Apple TV, said in a statement. “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.”

Harold’s credits include writing and executive producing “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” which earned five Emmy nominations. That was his first major TV venture; his film credits include “Edge of Tomorrow,” the John Wick franchise, “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” “The Flash” and more.

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

As for Russell, his next project is Steven Spielberg’s untitled upcoming 2026 film. His credits include playing U.S. Agent in Marvel’s “Thunderbolts,” “The Falcon and the Winter Solider,” as well as the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday.” Besides “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” his recent series include “Black Mirror” and “Under the Banner of Heaven.”

It had been previously reported that under Apple TV’s deal with Legendary that multiple “Monsterverse” series were in development. Legendary’s run of “Monsterverse” projects started with the “Godzilla” film in 2014, followed by 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island,” 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong,” and the recent “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” Next, the sequel “Godzilla x Kong: Supernova” is set to release in 2027. Combined, the “Monsterverse” has garnered more than $2.5 billion at the global box office.

In Season 2 of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” Kurt Russell returns in the role of the Lee Shaw, while his son Wyatt Russell plays the younger version of the character. The returning cast also includes Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Joe Tippett and Anders Holm.

Safehouse currently has a first-look television deal at Legendary TV and is repped by CAA and Goodman Genow Schenkman et al., while Russell is repped by UTA and Karl Austen of Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer.