Suppose it was inevitable but it’s hella good news. During the Godzilla 70th
Anniversary, Toho made an “Emergency Announcement” that a new Godzilla Film is
officially in the works with Godzilla Minus One’s Takashi Yamazaki returning to the Directors
Chair. That’s all the information we’ve
been given but its more than enough to get G fans excited about what might be
coming next. And its not a bad topic to
kick off a potential month full of Godzilla themed Top 5s since I’m gonna share
my Top 5 Theories About the Next Japanese Godzilla Movie today on Top 5
Wednesday.
We’re long past the point where Godzilla films are a
yearly occurrence.
Since entering the
Reiwa Era, we’ve only seen five entries spanning 8 years: 2016’s Shin Godzilla;
2017’s Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters; 2018’s Godzilla: City on the Edge of
Battle and Godzilla: The Planet Eater; and, of course, 2023’s Godzilla Minus
One.
Since the new movie announcement
was just made, I wouldn’t expect anything to arrive before 2025 at the
earliest.
But given how long it took to
get Minus One made, a better guess would be 2026 or 2027.
I’m sure Toho is eager to strike hot on Minus
One’s success but time and care is part of what made it so great, so give this
new entry the time it needs to at least match it.
#4-Yamazaki gets even more creative control
Much has been said about how Godzilla Minus One crushed
all expectations in the visual effects department and how it was done on merely
the fraction of most Hollywood blockbusters.
Having a seasoned VFX veteran like Takashi Yamazaki doubling as VFX
Supervisor, as well as Writer and Director, was a huge help here and he had a
lot of creative freedom to mold his vision.
Seeing as how this led Toho and Godzilla to Oscar gold, it wouldn’t
shock me that Toho is going to let Yamazki do whatever the heck he wants for
the follow up without much input.
I’m
sure there might be a mandate here and there at first but that might be all
before letting Yamazki run on his own again.
#3-The Human Cast
Among Godzilla Minus One’s many accomplishments is the
fact that it got viewers to actually like the human cast of the film, like
really like them.
The movie set a new
standard for how to write and handle the story arcs of those caught in
Godzilla’s wake and, for once, you wanted to see them triumph over the King of
the Monsters.
It wouldn’t shock me if
the Human factor continues to be a strong element going forward.
This could be a good way to reassure fans
that Humans aren’t just there to pad the runtime or distract from a lack of
Godzilla.
Fingers crossed we’re not back
to the zany misadventures of poor souls who don’t know their left from their
right and narrowly avoid death by giant monster foot.
#2-Time for another Kaiju Throwdown
Ignoring the Legendary Monsterverse, Godzilla hasn’t had
a proper throwdown with a rival since 2004’s Godzilla: Final Wars (and NO,
that…whatever that was in The Planet Eater with King Ghidorah doesn’t count
either).
It was good to see Godzilla
taken back to his roots as a sole menace again in both Shin Godzilla and
Godzilla Minus One. But the big guy hasn’t had a proper Japanese title fight in
over 20 years.
Considering how awesome
they got Godzilla to look in Minus One, imagine how Ghidorah, Mothra or Mechagodzilla
could look in the modern age of Japanese visual effects?
The franchise has been built on Godzilla
battling other Kaiju and he’s long overdue for another fight.
As a wise man once said, “Let them fight.”
#1-A Sequel to Godzilla Minus One?
With Yamazaki and a lot of the creative talent from
Godzilla Minus One back on board, the first thing that popped into my head is:
are we going to get an actual sequel to Minus One?
Aside from Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and
Godzilla: Tokyo SOS, there hasn’t been a back to back connection between
Godzilla films since the Hesei Era’s 7 film saga (OK there is the Anime Trilogy but I'm talking Japanese Live Action).
And I already have a few ideas of what
Yamazaki and Co. could do.
A time jump
of 20-30 years could see little Akiko grow up to lead a new defense against a
returned Godzilla (should be more than enough time for him to regenerate after
the conclusion of Minus One).
Could even
be a possibility of having Mechagodzilla reborn in a more retro fashion with
Akiko as its pilot and maybe even Doctor Kenji Noda as its creator.
However, Minus One worked well as a stand
alone Godzilla story just like Shin Godzilla.
IDK, the immediate return of the people who made one of the best
Godzilla films ever just screams potential sequel to me.
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