New Godzilla film from Takashi Yamazaki is reportedly greenlit

With the success of Godzilla Minus One, Toho confirmed via social media on November 1, 2024, that director Takashi Yamazaki would helm their next Godzilla project. The announcement was made on Godzilla Day as part of a larger studio celebration. In a recent video posted on X, it stated:

"EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT, A NEW GODZILLA FILM, PRODUCTION GREENLIT, VFX, WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY TAKASHI YAMAZAKI"

Minus One, produced by the acclaimed Japanese studio Toho, has made waves since its re-release on November 1, 2024. This reissue honors the franchise’s 70th anniversary. Directed and visually crafted by Takashi Yamazaki, the film went on to earn $116 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Japanese Godzilla franchise film.

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Update on Godzilla's next movie by Takashi Yamazaki

As announced by Toho on November 1, 2024, via X, the production of the new Godzilla movie has been approved. The project, featuring writer, director, and VFX supervisor Takashi Yamazaki, has been greenlit.

This upcoming project by Yamazaki highlights the monster's enduring appeal. Having written, directed, and supervised visuals for Minus One, he will again take on all three roles for this new film.

A teaser video featuring Yamazaki surfaced online, confirming his return to helm the project. Toho has kept details of the storyline under wraps, but the possibility of a sequel has stirred excitement among fans and industry insiders.

For this new film, Toho has retained Yamazaki’s creative vision. The cast remains unconfirmed, but if the story aligns with Minus One, key roles like that of Kōichi Shikishima may return.

Using the monster as a metaphor for human resiliency against national adversity, his original portrayal of post-war Japan struck a deep chord with viewers. The return of characters from Minus One is expected to showcase the creature's continuous influence on Japan's post-war rehabilitation and provide a fresh analysis of the monster's place in Japanese society.

After the creature's defeat, a fragment of its flesh begins to regenerate deep in the ocean. Meanwhile, Shikishima’s girlfriend, Noriko Ōishi, who narrowly escaped an encounter with the monster, now has an unusual black mark on her neck.

There might be a chance that another creature could emerge, either due to the curse the creature left on Japan or to humanity's reckless pursuit of ever-greater weapons to combat its might. This may reflect themes surrounding post-WWII Japan and the Cold War, as well as issues of mass destruction and Japan’s unique stance on militarism. Therefore, there's much to expect, though nothing has yet been confirmed.

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What is Godzilla Minus One about?

Set in post-World War II Japan, Minus One presents the struggles of Kōichi Shikishima, portrayed by Ryunosuke Kamiki. He is a former kamikaze pilot who grapples with personal and national devastation when the monster attacks. This re-release is just $828,600 away from surpassing Life is Beautiful as the second-highest-grossing foreign-language film in the U.S.

Given the overwhelmingly positive reception of the film, both reviewers and fans are wondering whether the next project will follow the same direction as Minus One. Whether the upcoming film will be a direct sequel or an entirely new story is unclear. However, fans can expect a continuation of the quality and depth that have defined the franchise.

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Moviegoers can now watch the movie as it has been re-released in nationwide theaters.