King Kong origin story gets a new title and release date

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Legendary Pictures announced via Twitter its King Kong origin story will be called Kong: Skull Island and be released March 10, 2017 instead of Nov. 4, 2016 as initially planned.

The title of the film had been simply Skull Island, but has since been expanded to give a nod to the monstrous ape that inhabited the remote locale.

"Previous works have touched upon the island, but staying on and exploring this mysterious and dangerous place offers Legendary [Pictures] the opportunity to take audiences deeper inside this rich world with a style and scope that parallels other Legendary productions," the studio said in a statement when the project was first announced in September.

Max Borenstein will pen the script and Jordan Vogt-Roberts will direct the movie. King Kong was last seen in a 2005 eponymous big-screen drama directed by Peter Jackson and starring Andy Serkis, Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Colin Hanks and Adrien Brody.

Hiddleston is known for portraying Loki in Thor and Thor: The Dark World. His other film credits include War Horse, Midnight in Paris and Only Lovers Left Alive.

KONG: SKULL ISLAND, March 10, 2017. UNTITLED GREAT WALL PROJECT, November 23, 2016.

— Legendary (@Legendary) December 13, 2014