Celebrated Japanese director Takashi Yamazaki is set to return to the world of Godzilla. The news arrives as Yamazaki’s successful film Godzilla Minus One re-enters theatres to mark the 70th anniversary of the iconic 1954 original. Yamazaki, who previously wrote, directed, and supervised the visual effects for Godzilla Minus One, will assume the same roles in Toho’s new project.
While details about the new Godzilla movie are sparse, including whether it will follow directly from Godzilla Minus One or begin a new storyline within the franchise, excitement is already building. The film concluded with the monster seemingly defeated by Kōichi Shikishima, portrayed by Ryunosuke Kamiki, only for the final scenes to suggest Godzilla’s regeneration deep in the ocean. The film also hinted at a mysterious and possibly sinister survival of Shikishima’s love interest, Noriko, played by Minami Hamabe.
Yamazaki shared insights into the creative process at a New York Comic Con panel last month, revealing that in the original script, Noriko was destined to die. However, upon reflection and during filming, he opted to keep her alive, adding visual effects to her neck to hint at a dark twist to her survival, leaving fans speculating about her fate.
Toho, the legendary studio behind Godzilla and numerous Akira Kurosawa films, confirmed Yamazaki’s involvement in a video posted on X/Twitter, where Yamazaki expressed his excitement about the project. “Hello everyone, I have wonderful news,” Yamazaki said. “I’ll be directing the new Godzilla film. Please stay tuned.”
Godzilla Minus One was noted for its impressive visual effects on a modest budget of US$15 million and grossed US$116 million globally, setting a record for a live-action Japanese film. With the long-standing legacy of Godzilla and Yamazaki’s proven track record, the upcoming film is poised to add an exciting chapter to the storied franchise. Fans are eagerly awaiting further details, hopeful for another thrilling addition to one of the longest-running movie series in history.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
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