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Is Godzilla male or female? 'King of Monsters' director insists it's a he, Kyle Chandler not so sure

Kevin Polowy

It's one of the longest standing debates among Godzilla fans: Is the legendary movie monster male or female?

For much of the feature creature's 65-year career, the towering kaiju has been referred to as "he" or "him," so prevailing logic suggests male. But there have been a couple outlying moments that contrast this, like 1967's Son of Godzilla (suggesting she gave birth) or 1998's Godzilla (in which she was literally pregnant).

Michael Dougherty, the director and co-writer of the new actioner Godzilla: King of the Monsters (a sequel to 2014's Godzilla and the 35th film in the franchise), was unequivocal in his response: "It's a he, he's called King of the Monsters," Dougherty told Yahoo Entertainment at the film's recent Los Angeles press day (watch above). "It's a boy." His actor Ken Watanabe agreed.

"Hands down, it's a male," furthered Vera Farmiga, who plays paleobiologist Dr. Emma Russell. "I know the 'a' at the end of his name throws it, right?"

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Kyle Chandler (who plays Emma's ex-husband Dr. Mark Russell), however, would prefer to keep the debate raging.

"I have a different view on it," the Friday Night Lights alum, who we heard watch every Godzilla movie in preparation, weighed in. "I think it's possible it's a woman."

"Or he's gender fluid," Farmiga countered.

"Where did baby Godzilla come from?" Chandler asked. "This is something my wife and I had a full conversation on this morning. It's a possibility, but it's not a certainty."

"He's kind of hybrid himself," Farmiga added. "He's amphibian and reptile."

That brings up yet another theory that's out there: That Godzilla is actually a hermaphrodite.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters is now playing. Watch the trailer:

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