Godzilla x Kong Actress Kaylee Hottle Dies at 18, Tributes Pour In

The Monsterverse film family is mourning the tragic loss of Kaylee Hottle, the young actor best known for her role as Jia in "Godzilla vs. Kong" and "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire." Hottle died in a car accident in Maryland on Tuesday. She was 18 years old.

Following the news of her passing, several of her co-stars shared heartfelt tributes on social media. Actor Rebecca Hall, who portrayed anthropological linguist Dr. Ilene Andrews in the Monsterverse films, expressed her grief on Instagram. Sharing photographs from the film sets, Hall wrote, " Devastated to hear this news. My heart goes out to your family. You will miss Kaylee. "

Actor Millie Bobby Brown, who was also part of the Monsterverse franchise, paid tribute to Hottle through an emotional Instagram post. " I'm so devastated to hear this. You will deeply miss Kaylee, " Brown wrote.

A deaf actress, Hottle made her feature-film debut at the age of nine in the 2021 blockbuster "Godzilla vs. Kong." She played Jia, a deaf and orphaned indigenous girl from the Iwi tribe who shared a unique bond with Kong after being rescued on Skull Island. Her performance was widely praised for bringing warmth and emotional depth to the action-packed film.

Hottle later reprised the role in "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire" (2024), where Jia's relationship with Dr. Andrews and her ancestral connection to the Iwi people became a major storyline.

Production company Legendary Pictures also paid tribute, describing Hottle as a cherished member of the film family. In a statement, the studio said her portrayal of Jia brought " extraordinary heart, humanity, and light " to the Monsterverse and remembered her for her kindness, warmth, and remarkable talent.

The news of Hottle's death was announced by her father, Joshua Hottle, through a Facebook livestream conducted in American Sign Language. He later confirmed her death to Variety, stating that she died in a car accident in Maryland while he was travelling from Texas to claim her body.

Hottle's memorable performance as Jia left a lasting impact on audiences worldwide, and tributes continue to pour in from fans and colleagues across the entertainment industry.