Moviefone Editorial

Tag: toho-studios

  • ‘Godzilla Minus One’ Follow-Up Officially Announced

    'Godzilla Minus Zero' teaser logo. TM & © Toho Co.
    ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ teaser logo. TM & © Toho Co.

    Preview:

    • Toho Studios has announced the ‘Godzilla Minus One’ follow-up.
    • The next movie will be called ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’
    • Takashi Yamazaki is back to direct.

    Back in 2023, ‘Godzilla Minus One’ stomped across screens and the box office, impressing critics and audiences with its layered human characters and stylish visuals.

    It’s not shocking, then, that backers Toho Studios would choose this year’s recent Godzilla Day 2025 in Tokyo to announce the first details of the follow-up.

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    ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’, alternately styled as the official logo suggests, as ‘Godzilla -0.0’, will see the giant creature return to theaters for his 31st Japanese movie (which doesn’t include any of the US-based Monsterverse outings).

    Can we expect the big-screen debut of cartoon annoyance Godzooky this time? Don’t hold your radioactive breath.

    Related Article: Movie Review: Godzilla Minus One

    What was the story of ‘Godzilla Minus One’?

    Still from 'Godzilla Minus One'.
    Still from ‘Godzilla Minus One’.

    ‘Godzilla Minus One’ takes place just after World War II, when Japan has no self-defense force and no armaments. The movie asks the question: What happens if Godzilla comes to Japan while it is completely disarmed?

    Meanwhile, after losing his honor in the war, Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) creates a surrogate family with Noriko Oishi (Minami Hamabe) just when Godzilla attacks again.

    The movie set several new benchmarks. Made on a reported budget of just $15 million, it defied expectations by earning more than $113 million worldwide and became the first film in the Godzilla franchise’s 70-year history to win an Academy Award, taking home the Oscar for best visual effects (in a category crowded with Hollywood tentpoles with vastly bigger budgets).

    It also became the all-time top-grossing live-action Japanese film at the North American box office.

    As for the new movie, we don’t have an inkling as to the story yet, but be prepared for more giant lizard carnage. According to what The Hollywood Reporter has heard, the new film is being positioned not just as a sequel but as a statement piece. Which means? We’re not entirely sure yet.

    All we do know right now is that ‘Minus One’ director Takashi Yamazaki is back to handle the new film.

    What else is happening in the world of Godzilla?

    Still from 'Godzilla Minus One'.
    Still from ‘Godzilla Minus One’.

    The next entry in Legendary and Warner Bros’ Monsterverse saga, ‘Godzilla x Kong: Supernova’ is in the works right now with Grant Sputore in the director’s chair. That’s scheduled for release in 2027.

    And Apple TV series ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’, which has occasional appearances from the Big G, has shot its second season, with a premiere date to be confirmed.

    When will ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ be in theaters?

    Toho has yet to confirm when the next Japanese movie will roar into cinemas.

    Still from 'Godzilla Minus One'.
    Still from ‘Godzilla Minus One’.

    Movies Similar to ‘Godzilla Minus One’:

    Buy ‘Godzilla’ Movies on Amazon

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  • New ‘Godzilla’ Movie in the Works from Toho Studios

    'Godzilla Minus One' opens in U.S. theaters on December 1st 2023.
    ‘Godzilla Minus One’ opens in U.S. theaters on December 1st 2023.

    Preview:

    • Toho Studios has announced a new ‘Godzilla’ movie.
    • It follows in the huge footsteps of ‘Godzilla Minus One.’
    • Writer/director Takashi Yamazaki will return to craft the latest film.

    Monsterverse? Schmonsterverse.

    While Warner Bros. and Legendary might be cooking up new ways for the gigantic likes of Godzilla and Kong to battle other beasties (or each other), the studios have seen diminishing returns on their linked series of movies.

    Toho Studios, meanwhile, birthplace of at least the big G (plus a host of other Kaiju) are looking to capitalize on the mammoth success of 2023’s ‘Godzilla Minus One.’

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    That movie, which was written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, was lauded for its special effects (including with the Visual Effects Oscar) in portraying the monster and its rampant destruction on a low budget of around $15 million.

    It went on to make $116 million worldwide and became the highest-grossing Japanese Godzilla film, plus the second-highest grossing foreign language movie in the U.S.

    Now, via an announcement on Twitter, Toho has revealed that Yamazaki will be back to oversee the next movie.

    What was the story of ‘Godzilla Minus One’?

    'Godzilla Minus One' opens in U.S. theaters on December 1st.
    ‘Godzilla Minus One’ opens in U.S. theaters on December 1st.

    The human focus of the story was Ryunosuke Kamiki’s Kōichi Shikishima, a former kamikaze pilot who survives an almost fatal encounter with Godzilla and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. When the massive beast reappears years later, a group of soldiers and veterans must band together to defeat the monster before it can destroy Japan.

    Related Article: Director Takashi Yamazaki and Ryunosuke Kamiki Talk ‘Godzilla Minus One’

    What will happen in the next movie?

    'Godzilla Minus One' opens in U.S. theaters on December 1st.
    ‘Godzilla Minus One’ opens in U.S. theaters on December 1st.

    It’s unclear if the new movie is a direct sequel to ‘Godzilla Minus One;’ however, the film did end on a cliffhanger for the rampaging lizard.

    After Godzilla is defeated, it’s revealed that a piece of the monster’s flesh is regenerating in the bottom of the ocean.

    There’s also the issue of Shikishima’s girlfriend, Noriko Ōishi (Minami Hamabe), who survived a run-in with Godzilla but is left with a mysterious black marking on her neck.

    Whatever the story, we can surely expect more big lizard action. And it makes sense that the announcement was made just before Godzilla Day 2024 (November 3rd in case you want to mark it in your diary for the future), which this year celebrates 70 years of the titular beast. And he doesn’t look a day over 65!

    When will the new ‘Godzilla’ movie stomp into theaters?

    There is no information yet on when the new movie might arrive in US theaters. Toho Studios didn’t mention when the movie might start shooting, so we’re not going to even guess at a release date just yet.

    'Godzilla Minus One' opens in U.S. theaters on December 1st.
    ‘Godzilla Minus One’ opens in U.S. theaters on December 1st.

    Movies and TV shows in the ‘Godzilla’ Franchise:

    Buy ‘Godzilla’ Movies on Amazon

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