AceShowbiz - Monarch: Legacy of Monsters star Wyatt Russell has shared an exciting update about Apple TV’s upcoming Monsterverse spinoff centered on his character Lee Shaw. As Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 continues to release episodes weekly, Apple TV+ is actively developing a fresh prequel series set in the 1980s, which will explore Shaw’s story in greater depth.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Russell revealed that production on the new show is slated to begin this summer, bringing fresh energy to the Monsterverse franchise. He praised showrunner Joby Harold for his inspired vision and shared that the tone and genre of the Lee Shaw series will be distinctly different from Monarch. According to Russell, viewers can expect something unexpected and unique:

“We are shooting it this summer, and I’ve read the scripts. They’re very well written. I’m more excited to start working on this than I have been about anything in a long time,” Russell said. “The genre that the Lee Shaw show will live in is totally separate from the genre Monarch lives in, and it’s very different in a way that I think is really exciting. I think people will expect one thing when they watch it, and that expectation will be completely subverted. Early on in the show, people are going to be like, ‘This is wild. This is so different from what I thought I was going to be watching – in the best way.’”

Russell also highlighted the enthusiasm of the creative team, emphasizing that although the project is in early pre-production, the cast and crew are deeply invested in expanding the Monsterverse narrative. The actor expressed hope that this new spinoff could sustain interest in the franchise for many years to come, possibly a decade or more. While the show will focus heavily on human characters, the presence of monsters remains an important element, maintaining the franchise’s signature appeal.

The Lee Shaw spinoff was first announced in December 2025, outlining a Cold War-era plot where Monarch brings Shaw out of retirement in 1984 to counter a Soviet threat involving a powerful Titan weapon. While Godzilla is expected to appear, details about other returning characters from Monarch remain unknown at this time.

This upcoming series marks the initial phase of a significant expansion of the Monsterverse across both television and film. With Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 currently airing and the next Monsterverse film, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, scheduled for release on March 26, 2027, Apple TV+ is positioning itself for a broad slate of interconnected projects. The Lee Shaw series is reportedly the first of multiple spinoffs planned for the streaming platform.

Production timelines have seen some variation in reports. While executive producer Tory Tunnell previously mentioned a spring start for filming, Russell’s statement points to a summer shoot. Regardless, filming is expected to occur within the first half of 2026, signaling a fast-tracked approach to bringing the series to audiences.

Meanwhile, Russell continues to appear as a younger Lee Shaw in flashbacks during Monarch season 2, beginning with the premiere episode. He hopes to maintain this role for an extended period, expressing interest in exploring numerous stories set within the Titan-focused world of the Monsterverse.

Fans eager for additional updates on Russell’s Monsterverse project can anticipate more information as filming approaches. For now, it appears that he may be the only returning actor from previous installments, which could help distinguish the new series as a standalone narrative within the larger franchise.

New episodes of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 are released every Friday on Apple TV+, continuing to build momentum for the expanding Monsterverse universe.