Godzilla Minus One Sequel Gets Disappointing Update From Director Despite Record-Setting Box Office Run

Godzilla Minus One director, writer, and visual effects lead Takashi Yamazaki has weighed in on the possibility of making a sequel. The movie, which is the 33rd Japanese-language entry in the giant monster franchise, has become a smash hit. In addition to earning the second-highest Rotten Tomatoes score of the entire franchise and receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects, it has passed the $100 million mark at the global box office, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese Godzilla movie worldwide and the highest-grossing live-action Japanese movie ever released in domestic theaters.

Per Comicbook.com, the Japanese-language publication HJ Web recently conducted an interview with Yamazaki. When asked if he was helming a sequel after the Godzilla Minus One ending left the door open for one, he said that “there is no such talk at all.” He followed that by saying that he “might be a little sad” if another director was chosen to make the next movie in the franchise. Read his full quote below:

No, no, there is no such talk at all. But I might be a little sad if someone else is chosen to direct the next Godzilla movie. When someone says, “This is the person who will direct the next Godzilla,” I think, “Ah!” And when someone says, “Please do it,” I think, “Ah!”

What Is Going On With Godzilla Minus One 2?

Considering the critical and commercial success of the Godzilla Minus One release, especially in North America, it seems obvious that a sequel would be greenlit sooner rather than later. In fact, there is a history of Toho making similar decisions. After the original 1954 Godzilla became a surprise hit, its sequel Godzilla Raids Again was released just six months later.

However, the mixed reception to that rushed production may be what led the Godzilla franchise to go dormant for seven years afterward, until the release of 1962’s King Kong vs. Godzilla. Toho may be opting not to rush into any decision about a follow-up despite the gargantuan Godzilla Minus One box office. There is precedent for that too, as the 2023 movie follows the previous highest-grossing Japanese Godzilla movie, Shin Godzilla, by seven years and has no canonical links to the storyline of that installment.

In fact, no live-action Godzilla movie from Japan has had any direct continuity with the previous movie for at least two decades. This may prove to be bad news for Yamazaki and his hopes to make a sequel to Godzilla Minus One. Toho’s decision remains to be seen, as the movie has not yet left worldwide theaters, but for the time being it seems that they are weighing their decision about the future of the franchise very carefully.

Source: HJ Web (via Comicbook.com)

Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla Minus One is the first Godzilla film released by Toho since 2016’s Shin Godzilla. Minus One is a reimagining of the original 1954 Godzilla and takes the franchise back to its roots by exploring the harsh life of post-war Japan. The story follows Koichi Shikishima, a failed kamikaze pilot, who struggles with survivor guilt as a giant monster attacks the city.

Release Date

December 1, 2023

Director

Takashi Yamazaki

Cast

Ryûnosuke Kamiki , Minami Hamabe , Yûki Yamada , Munetaka Aoki , Hidetaka Yoshioka , Sakura Andō , Kuranosuke Sasaki

Runtime

125 Minutes

Writers

Takashi Yamazaki

Studio(s)

Toho Studios , Robot

Distributor(s)

Toho Studios