More Kongversation: Author Ray Morton Returns!

Byrd and Kevin welcome back returning guest and author Ray Morton to the show to talk about the newly revised and expanded second edition of his monumental book King Kong: The History of a Movie Icon! Originally published in 2005, the book covered all things Kong up to just before the release of Peter Jackson’s remake. More than 20 years later, the great ape is more popular than he’s been in decades, thanks to the Monsterverse films and a wave of comics, cartoons, video games, stage plays, and more. Ray has spent years revisiting and updating the book—adding new material, expanding existing chapters, and bringing this definitive guide into the modern era. We dive into what’s been added and changed, and what it was like to revisit such a massive project. Along the way, we discuss the recent explosion of Kong content, explore lingering myths about the 1933 film’s infamous spider pit scene, attempt to untangle the confusing history of Kong’s IP rights, and touch on some unexpected backlash from Ray’s first appearance—plus much more. Relax and enjoy the conversation!