Well, it was 2004 when Godzilla, our beloved colossus, marked his 50th thunderous anniversary with an epic, monumental clash in Godzilla: Final Wars. For those who do not know, Ishirō Honda helmed and co-wrote the 1954 Toho release of Godzilla, the first flick in the franchise.
Despite the box office stumble of Godzilla: Final Wars, today we stand almost two decades later, celebrating the film’s transformation into a cult phenomenon. And as a seasoned Kaiju enthusiast who has followed Godzilla’s career from the depths of the Pacific to the climactic showdowns on the big screen, it’s informative to delve into the little-known stories behind the making of such a fan-favorite film.
In a riveting encounter with Kaiju United, director Ryuhei Kitamura shared a candid account of the unconventional casting of former MMA titan Don Frye as Captain Gordon in his 2004 flick.
Casting Captain Gordon: The Story Behind Don Frye’s Role in Godzilla: Final Wars
As we commemorate the 20th anniversary of Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), it is important to remember the unique casting choice that added an extra layer of excitement to the film: former MMA legend Don Frye as Captain Gordon.
Director Ryuhei Kitamura’s journey to finding the perfect actor for the role is not only entertaining but also gives us insight into the creative process behind the making of this epic Godzilla movie. Kitamura’s initial choices of John Reno and Christopher Lambert were unfortunately thwarted by various obstacles, but his persistence led him to Don Frye.
He told Kaiju United in April:
Our first choice was John Reno because he was in the first Hollywood Godzilla, but the agents or lawyers or managers, some of them stopped it. So my second choice was Christopher Lambert from Highlander, and that didn’t work. Then my third choice was, of course, legendary Sonny Chiba.
But then the director’s approach to casting a mixed martial arts superstar paid off, as Frye’s presence brought a new level of energy and intensity to the film. In his own words, Kitamura, 55, knew Frye was the right man for the job from the moment they discussed the role:
That’s when I started to feel like, you know, let’s forget about this, try to get a Hollywood star. And that’s when I started to look into mixed martial arts. Superstars like Dwayne Johnson, John Cena, they are performers. they know how to energize people…Then I met Don Frye. And when Don walked into this Japanese-Korean barbecue place, I just knew that this is the guy. [With a massive laugh], I feed him a lot. ‘Come on, Don, eat it, eat it, eat it’.
Despite Frye’s initial uncertainty about essaying the role, the director gave the MMA legend assurance by saying:
Come on Don, I have faith in you, buddy.
The filmmaker had complete faith in Frye’s skills, and it is obvious that the MMA icon delivered on his promise.
Frye was a standout in the movie because of his portrayal of Captain Gordon, which gave the character a sense of raw power and authenticity. His charisma & physicality struck a chord with viewers, securing his position within the Godzilla canon.
Godzilla Director Ryuhei Kitamura Takes on Thrill Ride Film Project
Ryuhei Kitamura, a prominent Japanese director of both English- and Japanese-language films, including Godzilla: Final Wars and The Midnight Meat Train, will helm the roller coaster thriller Thrill Ride. Per Deadline, filming is scheduled to take place at Pro Cinema Studios in Bulgaria during the fourth quarter of this year.
The movie, which is based on a script by Chad Law and Christopher Jolley, will follow a group of people—two of whom are young women—who are trapped upside down on a roller coaster. The producers are Jordan Dykstra, Ellen Wander, and Gabriel Georgiev of United Film. Casting is currently underway. In a joint statement, Wander and Dykstra stated:
Thrill Ride is exactly the type of high-concept based thriller that our customers are looking for in the marketplace. With Ryuhei at the helm, we know his vision and execution will deliver thrills of the highest quality.
In addition, Kitamura said regarding the “wildest rollercoaster”:
As a hardcore rollercoaster fan since I was young, I immediately fell in love with this script filled with suspense, action, crazy ups and downs, turns, loops, and corkscrews at maximum speed. I can’t wait to get on a ride and bring life to the wildest rollercoaster imaginable.
In addition, Kitamura is well acclaimed for his directing duties in the thrillers The Midnight Meat Train, starring Bradley Cooper, and No One Lives, featuring Luke Evans. Given his track record of thrillers and intense drama under his belt, we can expect this upcoming project (Thrill Ride) to be a box-office delight.
Stream Godzilla: Final Wars on Amazon Prime Video.
