‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ Star Kaylee Hottle Dies at 18 - Variety

What the report says

Variety reported that Kaylee Hottle, the young actor best known for playing Jia in the Monsterverse films “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” has died at 18. Citing The New York Times, Variety said Hottle died Monday in a car accident. Her father, Joshua Hottle, announced the news in an American Sign Language livestream, saying the crash occurred in Maryland and that he was traveling from Texas.

Texas School for the Deaf, where Hottle was a senior, also confirmed her death in a social media statement, according to Variety. The school identified the location as Frederick, Maryland, and asked the public to give the family privacy and avoid speculation because limited information was available. Hottle and her father were both deaf, and Variety noted that she came from a multigenerational deaf family.

Hottle’s most prominent role was Jia, a deaf orphan who communicates with Kong through sign language and is cared for by Dr. Ilene Andrews, played by Rebecca Hall. She appeared in the 2021 and 2024 Godzilla-Kong films, and Variety reported she received a Saturn Award nomination for best performance by a younger actor for “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” Her other credits included a 2021 episode of “Magnum P.I.” and commercials connected to deaf community support.

Legendary Entertainment, the producer behind the Godzilla films, issued a statement mourning Hottle and describing her as a valued member of the film family. Her casting was significant for bringing a deaf character and actor into a major Hollywood franchise, with ASL central to Jia’s relationship with Kong.