Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the 2023 Japanese epic kaiju movie Godzilla Minus One was the 37th movie in the Godzilla franchise along with being the fifth film in the franchise’s Reiwa era. The movie starred Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, and more.
Godzilla Minus One premiered on October 2023 at the Shinjuku Toho Building and upon its release worldwide the movie became the fifth highest-grossing Japanese movie of 2023. The movie went on to receive positive reviews from the critics and the audience surpassed the Shin Godzilla. It was highly lauded for its visual effects, direction from Yamazaki, story along with the characters, and social commentary. Takashi Yamazaki recently shared his plans for the possible sequel.
Takashi Yamazaki teases probable sequel for Godzilla Minus One
Filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One was one of the biggest movies that was released in 2023, leaving fans of the franchise wanting more. In a recent interview with Empire, the director shared that as of now there have been no plans for a sequel but he has been curious about the future of his beloved characters. He said,
“I would certainly like to see what the sequel would look like. I know that Shikishima’s war seems over, and we’ve reached this state of peace and calm-but perhaps it’s the calm before the storm and these characters have not yet been forgiven for what has been imposed on them.”
The director goes on to explain that Minus One has been more of a character-driven story than a monster movie and for the sequel, he suggested that he would like to strike a balance between the both. Adding more he explained,
“I don’t know that anyone has pulled off a more serious tone of kaiju versus kaiju with human drama and that challenge is something that I’d like to explore. When you have movies that feature kaiju battles, I think it’s very easy to put the spotlight and the camera on this massive spectacle and it detaches itself from the human drama component.”
Yamazaki continued that he would make sure that the human drama and whatever is happening between the kaiju both have meaning and both can affect one another in terms of plot development. It can be said that the human drama helped the movie make a mark but the kaiju’s regeneration in the process lingering beneath the waves could cause destruction in the probable sequel, which Takashi Yamazaki aims to make better than before.
In an interview with Vulture, the director mentioned that in due time, he is hoping that the VFX budget will increase, allowing him to make more improvements. He also added that he is looking forward to the day they can pay creatives more.
Takashi Yamazaki shares meeting Steven Spielberg at the Oscars Luncheon
Filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki’s interaction with yet another legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg at the Oscars Luncheon that was recently held did not go unnoticed. Yamazaki took to his X account to share his excitement as he wrote,
“I’ve met GOD. What am I going to do with all of this? I am seriously crying. And Spielberg saw GMO 3 times. He told me he liked the characters in the film. I gave him a Godzilla figure, and he was so happy when he took it.”
Godzilla Minus One earned the Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects and according to World of Reel used a combination of VFX and practical effects to create the masterpiece action sequences in the movie. Takashi Yamazaki was reportedly inspired and influenced by the original 1954 Godzilla movie while making Minus One.
Godzilla Minus One’s streaming details are yet to be shared by the studios.
