New ‘Godzilla’ movie from ‘Godzilla Minus One’ director Takashi Yamazaki greenlit by Toho

Toho has officially greenlit a new Godzilla film from Takashi Yamazaki, the acclaimed director of Godzilla Minus One.

The announcement, made Friday, confirms Yamazaki’s return to the franchise following his success with Godzilla Minus One, which won the 2023 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. In addition to directing, Yamazaki will again oversee the visual effects, a key component of the film’s acclaim.

Godzilla Minus One marked Toho’s 33rd Godzilla movie and the 37th film featuring the iconic creature. The Japanese film is distinct from Hollywood’s recent Monsterverse, which includes Godzilla and King Kong productions from Warner Bros. and Legendary. Set in post-World War II Japan, Godzilla Minus One starred Ryunosuke Kamiki as Kōichi Shikishima, a former kamikaze pilot with PTSD, who narrowly survives an attack by Godzilla. The plot follows him and a group of soldiers as they attempt to protect Japan from the monster’s wrath. Other cast members include Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, and Sakura Ando.

While it’s unclear if the new movie will directly follow Godzilla Minus One, the previous film left several cliffhangers, notably a scene showing a regenerating piece of Godzilla’s flesh at the ocean’s bottom and Shikishima’s girlfriend, Noriko Ōishi, marked by a mysterious black spot on her neck after an encounter with the creature.

Godzilla Minus One was praised for its visual effects despite its $15 million budget, ultimately grossing $116 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing Japanese Godzilla film.