Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 lands early 2026 release date on Apple TV – and its first trailer suggests there's a big absence from its cast

• Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2's release date has been revealed
• It'll make its Apple TV debut in February 2026
• The second season's first trailer suggests one key character may not return

It's official: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 will roar onto our screens next February.

The sci-fi drama's sophomore outing on Apple's streaming platform will begin on February 27, 2026 with a one-episode premiere. After that, new chapters will air weekly until the finale launches on May 1.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters — Season 2 Date Announcement | Apple TV - YouTube

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Monarch: Legacy of Monsters' return date was confirmed alongside the launch of its season 2 teaser, which you can view above. And, while it only gives us a brief glimpse at what'll happen in the Apple TV Original's next 10-part installment, it confirms the return of characters we didn't expect to see in the show's forthcoming entry, and the potential absence of a key player from its debut season.

Per an Apple TV press blast, season 2 "will pick up with the fate of Monarch – and the world – hanging in the balance.

"The dramatic saga reveals buried secrets that reunite our heroes (and villains) on Kong’s Skull Island, and a new mysterious village where a mythical Titan rises from the sea. The ripple effects of the past make waves in the present day, blurring the bonds between family, friend, and foe – all with the threat of a titan event on the horizon."

Why isn't Godzilla in the trailer for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2?

Full spoilers follow for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 1 and Legendary's Monster-Verse.

The first trailer for season 2 might only be 50 seconds long, but it answers one big question I had following last season's finale – and leaves me with another that needs answering.

Let's start with the former. Lee Shaw, who was played by father-son duo Kurt and Wyatt Russell in season 1, was thought to have died during its finale.

Indeed, the older version of Shaw played by Kurt Russell seemingly sacrificed himself in episode 10 of one of the best Apple TV shows' first season. However, the season 2 preview shows he's not only still alive, but also appears to make it out of the Hollow Earth and back onto the surface world.

Given Wyatt Russell is back for this season, it's all but confirmed we'll get more flashbacks of a younger Shaw working alongside Bill Randa. That's the character played by Anders Holm, who's among other returning cast members from season 1, including Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, and Joe Tippett.

Curiously, though, season 2's first teaser doesn't reveal if Godzilla will be part of proceedings.

In our Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 guide, I discussed the prospect that the so-called King of the Monsters won't be an active participant this season. Indeed, as it's primarily set on Skull Island, i.e. the home of Kong, Godzilla may only have a minor supporting role this time around.

That said, it's possible the legendary kaiju won't appear at all.

Based on how last season ended, Monarch season 2 will be set in 2017. At this point on the Monster-Verse timeline, Godzilla and Kong hadn't cross paths and wouldn't do so until 2021's Godzilla Vs Kong. If Monarch season 2 focuses on Kong and his base of operations, it wouldn't make sense for Godzilla to show up.

Still, considering season 2's Big Bad will apparently be a "mythical Titan" that "rises from the sea", maybe Godzilla will show up. Humanity could certainly use an expert swimmer to help them defeat a fellow water-loving kaiju!

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