Toho’s 34th Godzilla film is reportedly eyeing a new director after Takashi Yamazaki-directed film Godzilla Minus One won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. According to sources, the director of the Bleach live-action movie, Shinsuke Sato, will be Toho’s new choice of director.
It is also reported that the film will not be a sequel to the earlier film and will be a standalone work. Fans are not exactly thrilled to hear this news, as they believe that Toho is wasting a great opportunity.
After the success of 2016’s live-action Godzilla film Shin Godzilla, Toho developed three animated kaiju films in a series before developing another standalone live-action Godzilla Minus One. Fans are a little disappointed that Toho is going for separate works when it comes to live-action kaiju films.
Takashi Yamazaki Might Not Helm The Next Live-Action Godzilla Film From Toho
A Japanese source on X has reported that Toho is looking to rope in Shinsuke Sato to direct their next Godzilla film. Sato is famous for directing the Kingdom film series and for the live-action adaptations of anime/manga series including, I Am a Hero, Death Note, and Bleach. He is also reportedly roped in to direct the American version of the anime, My Hero Academia (via Deadline).
Japanese Director Takashi Yamazaki Wants to Make a Movie in Response to Cillian Murphy’s Oppenheimer
The X account @raserkey1 shared that when they spoke to a Toho employee, they found the scoop that the company is looking to collaborate with Sato for the new Godzilla film. The X account also added that this new film will be a separate work and not a sequel to Godzilla Minus One.
Hello! When I spoke to a Toho employee, I was told that Toho would like to collaborate with director Sato of "Kingdom" to create a Godzilla following "Godzilla-1.0"!!
— raserkey (@raserkey1) May 15, 2024
No sequel! Separate work!
— raserkey (@raserkey1) May 15, 2024
While many fans of Sato were excited about the news, it came as a disappointment for the majority of the fans. Many were hoping to see further kaiju films from Takashi Yamazaki, who served as the director and visual effects supervisor of Godzilla Minus One. He and his team won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects recently, becoming the first Japanese film to win in the category.
One fan commented that there was no need for Shinsuke Sato when Yamazaki was right there. Another fan shared their concern that Toho was going to continue with its one-off hits in the franchise. One fan pointed out that Toho was sitting on a gold mine with Yamazaki and that it made no sense to look elsewhere.
Other fans also mentioned that a sequel work of the critically acclaimed movie might be the need of the hour. Some of the fan reactions read:
ERM WHAT THE SIGMA?
TAKASHI YAMAZAKI IS RIGHT THERE?!— Ed_rick (Ape Pilled) (@Edrick1954) May 15, 2024
I'm assuming Toho is going to continue with the one-offs
— The real Dillon Johnson (@DillonJohnson55) May 15, 2024
But Toho is sitting on a gold mine with Yamazaki!
— kasaibou F29 (@F29Kasaibou) May 15, 2024
Please I just want a minus one sequel
— Ryan O'Connell🇮🇪 (@DominantCub72) May 15, 2024
Realizing the success and critical acclaim of films like Shin Godzilla & Minus One probably means we aren't gonna see any of these stories expanded beyond one film in the foreseeable future 😭
At the very least do not give as a third new solo film, Toho it's been too long!
— Yirmatang (CreationZilla) (@yirmatang) May 16, 2024
According to Box Office Mojo, Godzilla Minus One earned $115.8 million at the worldwide box office. The film impressed both the critics and audiences alike. It received a 98% Tomatometer score and a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Takashi Yamazaki’s Unavailability Could Be A Reason For Toho’s New Director Hunt
During an interview with Collider in February 2024, Yamazaki shared that he was working on his next big film. When asked if a sequel to Godzilla Minus One would be his next work, Yamazaki shared that he had another film in development. Yamazaki’s availability might also be affected by the fact that he had recently enlisted with CAA, the American talent agency (via Variety).
This new agreement would mean that Yamazaki might be employed for Hollywood productions in the future. The director would be an asset considering he produced top-notch visuals with a team of 34 and a mere budget of $15 million. Some fans believed that the small-budget film from Japan put some of the big franchises in Hollywood to shame with its visual effects.
