Godzilla is coming!

7.7.2023

Everyday Godzilla’s footsteps get louder as the new Godzilla Twitter account, ゴジラ最新作【2023年11月3日公開】translated “Godzilla Latest Work” [Released on November 3, 2023] starting counting down from the last Toho film, Shin Godzilla (2016) on June 12. In four days on July 11, there is an expectation of a big tease and announcement of the 30th installment in the Godzilla movie series and the second of the Reiwa era. The movie will be directed by Takashi Yamazaki, a producer and director, known for Always: Sunset on Third Street (2005) and Parasyte: Part 1 (2014).¹ He is no stranger to Godzilla creating a CGI Godzilla in the Special Edition “Godzilla x Sunset on Third Street” (2007) and Godzilla for “Godzilla the Ride” at the Seibuen Amusement Park.²

Yamazaki’s film is untitled as of yet and only a “G,” reminiscent of the “G works” mark from the original production, has been provided. Some believe it will be called “Godzilla Zero” (ゴジラ・ゼロ) based on a tweet in 2022.³ “Godzilla” will be released on November 3, 2023, Godzilla’s Day, the date of the original in 1954. The release will kick off the celebration of Godzilla’s 70th anniversary. Director Yamazaki is said to be “aiming for an incredible Godzilla.” The announcement came during last year’s Godzilla Day. At that time filming had already finished and was under editing. The story is set in postwar Japan.² The story will take place years before the Bikini Atoll H-bomb test of March 1, 1954, that radiated the dinosaur Godzillasaurus that became Shodai Godzilla. Much speculation has been made. There are many questions to be answered such as: Will this Godzilla be connected at all with Shodai Godzilla? Is this another dinosaur from the family of dinosaurs said to have been living in the sea near Odo Island? Will this new movie may be a standalone film completely detached from the 1954 storyline. Whatever comes, these are things I would love to see in any prequel to Godzilla (1954).

Yamazaki’s film is untitled as of yet and only a “G,” reminiscent of the “G works” mark from the original production, has been provided. Some believe it will be called “Godzilla Z” (ゴジラ・ゼロ) based on a previous tweet.³ “Godzilla” will be released on November 3, 2023, Godzilla’s Day, the date of the original in 1954. The release will kick off the celebration of Godzilla’s 70th anniversary. Director Yamazaki is said to be “aiming for an incredible Godzilla.” The announcement came during last year’s Godzilla Day. At that time filming had already finished and was under editing. The story is set in postwar Japan.² The story will take place years before the post-war Bikini Atoll h-bomb test that radiated the dinosaur that became Godzilla. Will this Godzilla be connected at all with Shodai Godzilla? Is this another dinosaur from the family of dinosaurs said to have been living in the sea near Odo Island? Much speculation has been made. This new movie may be a standalone film completely detached from the 1954 storyline. But let me share what I would love to see in the prequel Godzilla movie.

Whatever direction the new Godzilla movie takes, there will be great excitement and gratitude for a new Toho Godzilla movie. It will be 7 years since Shin Godzilla, a film shaped by the earthquake-tsunami nuclear disaster of 3/11/2011. This Godzilla can stir up old post-war controversy and make another strong statement for anti-nuclear proliferation. We still need a Godzilla to focus our attention on important issues.