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Most kaiju have a decidedly antagonistic relationship with humanity, but Mothra has always been a bit different. In most of her appearances, she has been a benevolent force, acting as something of a bridge between monsters and humanity. As the two biggest figures in the MonsterVerse prepare to take on a new, bigger foe, it seems that Mothra is set to return from the dead in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Mothra’s sacrifice in Godzilla: King of Monsters gave the titular Titan the power to overcome the devastating Ghidorah. However, her death was never likely to stick thanks to the eggs they laid earlier. They remained absent during Godzilla vs. Kong but a “blink and you’ll miss it” moment in the Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire trailer at least hints that Mothra is coming back. You can see the distinctive winged shape reflected in the eyes of Jai at around the 30 second mark in the film's second trailer.

Whether this is due to her emerging psychic bond with the Titans or if Mothra is being reborn in a physical sense is still a bit of a mystery. There is a chance that Mothra’s return is merely foreshadowed in this movie with the payout happening in a future MonsterVerse entry, but the fact that Earth is facing a threat so powerful that it requires two Titans to team up to beat it suggests that this is the perfect time for Mothra to come back in her traditional role as a Guardian Titan.

We won’t find out if Mothra is really returning in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire until the movie finally comes out, but it is still a safe bet that she’ll be back in future movies – you can’t leave one of the most famous kaiju just collecting dust forever, after all.

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