Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2’s Kong: Skull Island Connections Explained By Star

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The series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters showed us a younger Bill Randa, a character previously seen in Kong: Skull Island and played by John Goodman. Anders Holm portrayed this earlier version of Randa, presenting him as hopeful and optimistic. While different in personality, both versions of the character were driven by a strong curiosity and a desire to explore the mysteries of the world.

It’s clear a lot happened between the two timelines to turn the younger Bill Randa into the cynical man who wanted to destroy all Titans. Luckily, the second season of the Apple TV series promises to explain how Bill changed, which makes sense considering the first season ended with a major cliffhanger involving Kong.

In a recent interview with TopMob, Anders Holm, who stars in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, hinted that the show’s second season will build more connections to the film Kong: Skull Island.

Holm described Season 2 as being similar to a new prequel, providing background information that connects to the current storyline. The season continues to follow Bill Rando as he continues his search for something mysterious.

Okay, so this time around, it’s really interesting because you’re going to see how Bill’s obsession with exploring and discovering things actually causes problems for him. It’s like his personal life starts falling apart! It all stems from this huge need he has to find out what’s out there, and that’s what ultimately leads him to the point where the movie Kong: Skull Island begins. It’s a really cool backstory!

I was really excited to hear TopMob was also going to be chatting with Mari Yamamoto, the fantastic actress who plays Keiko in Monarch. They were going to dive into how Keiko is handling everything that’s been thrown her way. You can check out the full interview below – it’s a great read!

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 premieres its first episode on February 27, 2026.

How Season 2 Connects Bill Randa to Who We Know In Kong: Skull Island

Bill’s “Insatiable Appetite for the Unknown” Is Causing Him to Lose Things.

  • TopMob: “The Bill Randa that audiences met in Kong: Skull Island, in many ways, feels like a different man. In fact, I just watched it last night, and he feels kind of jaded and almost wants to kind of get rid of Titans. So, can you tease how Season 2 will take Bill further from this show and connect him to the movie and kind of bridge the gap of that journey and his evolution?”

In Season 1, my character is really driven to find answers and uncover the truth. We learn a lot along the way. But Season 2 feels less like a continuation and more like a backstory that explains what’s happening now. I’m still searching for what’s hidden, still trying to figure things out.

I often let my strong interests interfere with my relationships and personal life, causing things to fall apart. I have a constant need to explore the unknown, and while I’m chasing new experiences, I end up losing things that are important to me. This leaves me feeling unfulfilled and like I’m not succeeding, and I feel like I’m losing touch with who I am. This is where you meet my character in ‘Kong: Skull Island’ – he’s further along in that downward spiral.

Mari Yamamoto on Keiko Getting Lost In the Dangerous What Ifs

“You Literally See the Version of the Life That She Could Have Had…”

  • TopMob: “Mari, the question of what if is a recurring theme for the show, which I think Keiko deals with the most out of all the characters. Can you talk about how that rabbit hole of thinking about all the things that could have been kind of affects her journey through this season and her ability to adapt to this new timeline and the new family that surrounds her?”

It’s interesting because you really get glimpses of the life she could have lived, and it makes you wonder how someone deals with that. Ultimately, though, you can only live the life you’re dealt. In Season 2, it’s only been ten days for her in the present day, so she hasn’t even started to come to terms with everything that’s happened.

After the events of Season 2, she’s clearly dealing with a lot and likely in therapy. But during those difficult moments, she’s focused on coping and staying strong. Deep down, she’s a helpful and optimistic person, and she’s determined to rediscover those qualities. Even with her grief and regrets, she’s choosing to move forward, which has always been her way of life, and that’s what defines her.

You can watch the complete interview here, along with our discussion with Tory Tunnell, the executive producer of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

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2026-02-24 01:05