New Godzilla film announced from director of Godzilla Minus One

TOHO has officially confirmed the development of a new Godzilla film following the global success of Godzilla Minus One last year.

Details regarding the upcoming Godzilla film are scarce at the moment, but it has been revealed that it will once again be helmed by Godzilla Minus One director, writer, and effects supervisor Takashi Yamazaki. No further information has been disclosed at this time.

The announcement of the new Godzilla film coincided with Godzilla Day, celebrated worldwide on November 3rd. This news was released just ahead of the North American re-release of Godzilla Minus One in theaters, including its black-and-white version.

Godzilla Minus One is set in post-World War II Japan and features Ryunosuke Kamiki as a former kamikaze pilot grappling with survivor’s guilt and PTSD after encountering the monstrous Godzilla, who embarks on a destructive rampage. The film also stars a supporting cast including Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, and Kuranosuke Sasaki.

The previous installment in the franchise, 2016’s Shin Godzilla, was co-directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi. It marked the third reboot of the franchise and the first film in the Reiwa era. Interestingly, Godzilla Minus One serves as a reboot as well, establishing a new narrative separate from previous iterations of the iconic monster.

TOHO’s contractual obligations with western producer Legendary Pictures and their “MonsterVerse” collaboration prevented the release of a new Godzilla film until after 2020. Despite facing rejection for several pitches, TOHO is now moving forward with the highly anticipated live-action Godzilla film.

Given the immense success of Godzilla Minus One, it comes as no surprise that TOHO has entrusted the future of the franchise to Yamazaki. The film achieved significant milestones, becoming the third highest-grossing foreign-language film in US theaters and the highest-grossing Japanese film in the US box office.

In a historic moment, Godzilla Minus One was recognized at the Academy Awards, winning the 2024 award for Best Visual Effects. This marked the first time a Japanese film in the Godzilla franchise received such prestigious recognition.