Japanese kaiju media franchise Godzilla is among the most respected and popular sci-fi franchises in the world, having facilitated several films, television series, novels, comic books, and video games ever since its first installment, Godzilla (1954). It also inspired MonsterVerse, which recently launched the trailer of its fifth movie, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
However, almost 70 years later, director Takashi Yamazaki turned the clock back and returned to the themes of the original work of Ishirō Honda with his take on Godzilla Minus One. And it seems he has no desire to stop at just one reboot of the scary yet very symbolic lizard.
How Takashi Yamazaki Teased Plans for Godzilla Minus One Sequel
Warning: The following part of the article includes spoilers.
Takashi Yamazaki‘s Godzilla Minus One takes back its titular character to its allegorical roots. As Japan attempts to raise itself from the devastating effects of war, a new crisis hits them back in the form of Godzilla. However, this version sheds more light on its human characters, not least Kōichi Shikishima and Noriko Ōishi, than the original film.
Yamazaki’s commentary on the effects of nuclear conflict and the fear and guilt World War II left on those who survived has been received well worldwide, having impressed the new generation of fans with its visual effects as well as its use of the radioactive lizard as a metaphor for the power of the atomic bomb.
As per Sankei Sports, the filmmaker has more ideas concerning Godzilla and wants to make a sequel. He said:
“I’ve always wanted to make a Godzilla movie, so this was the moment when my dream of 50 years came true… I wonder if you can give me one?”
The reactions of fans suggest they saw it all coming. In fact, a few believe the purported sequel would just be a start.
This is 100% going to happen. It’s not even in question. They’ll BEG him to make another.
— Michael Austin (@mikeswriting) December 7, 2023
Let him cook imo pic.twitter.com/u0MCEfSXQD
— Kam 💫 (@kamkenobi) December 7, 2023
The franchise was meant for sequels. pic.twitter.com/VuEF8s8nRY
— Eric Pellinen (@EricPellinen) December 7, 2023
if a sequal does happen, hopefully it would be a good one and not like Raids again where it’s only just a……meh of a sequal
— Ankush sharma (@Aku_700) December 7, 2023
ONE. MORE. TIME! (I’ll take a few sequels from him honestly idc)
— Armor King (ArmorKingTV21) (@ArmorKingTV21) December 7, 2023
The filmmaker also teased viewers by ending Godzilla Minus One in a way that opens the door for a much darker sequel.
Shikishima, who’s already dealing with the guilt of not being able to kill Godzilla when the monster was yet to reach its most ferocious form, gets more driven than ever to beat it after the lizard supposedly kills Noriko, who loves him. Shikishim succeeds in his kamikaze mission and later also finds out that Noriko is alive.
As everything seemingly ends on a happy note, fans notice dark black marks along her neck, which many speculate might be due to radiation emitted by Godzilla. This might lead to some kind of mutated form of a monster down the road.
Further, the movie’s impressive financial performance is only likely to strengthen Yamazaki’s case.
How Godzilla Minus One Has Performed at the Box Office
Made against a budget of $15 million, Godzilla Minus One has already garnered $41 million at the global box office.
Impressively, with a collection of $14.36 million in North America, the movie is now the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film in the region (via Deadline).
Moreover, in a very poetic development, Godzilla Minus One has dethroned Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer – the documentary feature on the father of the atomic bomb J. Robert Oppenheimer – as IMDb’s highest-rated blockbuster in 2023.
