Apple TV Global Hit Sci-Fi Show’s New Time Travel Story & Changes Teased By Returning Star

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Apple TV’s global hit sci-fi show is about to have an intriguing new time travel story.

Mari Yamamoto, who plays Keiko in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, has discussed Keiko’s journey in the show’s second season. After the events of season one, Keiko was found to have survived a fall into the Hollow Earth in 1959, but ended up lost in time within a hidden part of this underground world.

Yamamoto recently told ScreenRant that Keiko’s storyline in the second season of Monarch will immediately thrust her into the central conflict alongside the other characters. She won’t have much time to get used to things before major events start happening, which will require her to quickly learn to deal with new dangers and obstacles.

ScreenRant asked Mari about her character this season, noting that she plays someone displaced from their original time period, allowing for interaction with the present-day world. They were curious about how she approached portraying that aspect of the role.

I think what works really well is that the character doesn’t have much time to process what’s happening. She’s immediately thrown into a situation where she needs to act, and that feels true to who she is – someone who always looks for a way to be helpful and find her purpose. She’s also a very loving person, so even if she isn’t welcome, she’ll still try to show as much kindness as possible. When I was working on the role, I kept focusing on those core aspects of her personality, even while moving between different points in the story.

I was so fascinated to hear Yamamoto talk about playing Keiko! She shared that one of her favorite parts was getting to work with all the key characters from Monarch. But what really excited her, and me too, was filming the scenes set in the 1950s. It’s just so cool to see Monarch starting to piece together the mystery of the Titans back then. Here’s what she had to say about it all:

Since you mentioned switching between time periods, I was curious – did you have a preference for filming in either the 1950s or the present day? Did you enjoy the vintage setting, or did you have more fun interacting with the cast in the modern scenes?

I feel very fortunate to be working with such a talented cast – it’s a real pleasure to act alongside everyone. It’s hard to pick a favorite part of the experience, because everyone is so good! But I’m especially drawn to the 1950s setting. Maybe it’s the costumes, or maybe it’s the feeling of optimism from that era. The idea of discovering these monsters for the first time, being among the first to witness them, is incredibly exciting and fun.

In season 2 of Monarch, Keiko will be actively involved in the story alongside the other characters. The season picks up two years after Cate, May, and Lee Shaw vanished, and they reappear with Keiko on Skull Island. Apex Cybernetics is also on the island, conducting research—probably to help them build Mechagodzilla—but their exact motives are still unknown.

The new season will center around the emergence of Titan X, a formidable monster comparable to Godzilla and Kong. This creature escaped from Hollow Earth after the events of the first season. Meanwhile, Keiko will be catching up on everything that’s happened with Monarch and the Titans during her time away, all while facing these new dangers.

We don’t yet know the full story of Keiko’s past, but she’ll be a key player in the upcoming battles against Titan X and possibly Apex. Her experiences in the Hollow Earth could also prove crucial, giving the team valuable knowledge and making her more important than ever.

Regardless of what happens next, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has positioned Keiko to be a key player in season 2. Though the full scope of her involvement remains a mystery, trailers and comments from actress Kei Yamamoto suggest she’ll be central to the unfolding story.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 premieres Friday, February 27 on Apple TV.

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2026-02-27 01:08