Excitement for the next Takashi Yamazaki directed Toho Godzilla film is sky high, as it was recently announced that the next entry in the franchise will be a sequel to Minus One. Fans had already been speculating due to the ambiguous nature of Minus One’s epilogue: Godzilla’s remains starting to regenerate as his ominous theme looms. Additionally, there is a black mark on Noriko’s neck in the ending hospital scene that leaves even more questions. With all the directions that a Minus One sequel could take, what could these paths look like?
Hints from the Director
Photo Credit: Nick Crispino
Speaking to Empire Magazine in early 2024, Yamazaki stated, “I don’t know if anyone has achieved a more serious tone of kaiju vs kaiju with human drama, that challenge, is something I would like to explore.” A traditional “Godzilla vs.” style movie has not been done in a long time by Toho, with Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One both being solo Godzilla films. But what monster, or monsters, could be chosen for such a film?
At New York Comic Con last October, Yamazaki was asked during a panel what Godzilla movie he would remake, given the chance, and he replied “Godzilla vs. Hedorah. I think that for its time, Hedorah was a very cutting-edge kaiju, and thinking about the type of visual expression we can do with technology and how far it’s come today – I’m imagining how it would move, and I think that would be a really cool remake.” Hedorah is a cult-classic fan-favorite kaiju, and being remade in the modern special effects era would be a fascinating film. Yamazaki’s interest in making a film with Hedorah is also encouraging for the possibility of the pollution monster’s return. The only challenge could perhaps be the fact that Toho would likely want to incorporate more classic and widely popular monsters (Mothra, King-Ghidorah, Anguirus, Rodan, etc.) for marketability and success. However, Hedorah should certainly be on the radar for a franchise entry down the line.
Which Other Kaiju Could Feature?
Going back to re-imagining Toho kaiju in the modern era, fans have a long wish list besides Hedorah. Of the kaiju-lineup, only Mothra, King-Ghidorah, Rodan, Mechagodzilla (Legendary version) and King Kong have been on the big screen with modern special effects. With Toho’s plans to expand the Godzilla brand and pour in more funding, more films than just this coming sequel are possible. There are many contenders that fans are dying to see, such as Anguirus, Gigan, Biollante, Destroyah, and more. Any of these classics would be a great choice for a Minus One sequel, but which could best fit the tone and style of this new Godzilla era?
A common kaiju that would fit this mold would be Anguirus. Many fans have expressed a desire for Anguirus to return. Toho could take the direction of creating a Raids Again-type sequel that expands the kaiju universe while introducing new characters and storylines that could eventually intertwine. This approach could be interesting and fit the desires of fans as many feel that Shikishima and Noriko’s story wraps up nicely and doesn’t need continuation.
Something New, or Resuming the Previous Story?
©Toho Co., Ltd.
While continuing the universe with new characters is possible, there are hints that could allude to another direction, like the aforementioned Noriko’s black mark on her neck. It is uncertain what this mark is, if it has to do with Noriko somehow surviving a nuclear blast, and if Toho will build on it or not. If so, what could a direction with the same characters look like? Well, Toho will likely introduce at least one kaiju and form a new storyline to flesh out existing characters while possibly incorporating new ones. Shikishima and Noriko’s dynamic will certainly change, and there is plenty to build on with Captain, Doc, and Kid’s characters. A time skip that provides narrative breathing room could be useful for a continuation of previous storylines.
Online Speculation
Another possibility that has been brought up by fans on r/Godzilla, is the idea of another solo G film. In a comment to a post from last week, User Select_Insurance2000 points out that, “It fits perfectly with Dr. Yamane’s warning at the end of ’54 Gojira, that if nuclear testing continued, other Gojira’s could appear.” What could present a challenge though, is creating a film that is unique enough from Minus One despite once again being a movie that revolves around only Godzilla. Nonetheless, a completely new human plot that handles Godzilla in a different way, similar to Shin Godzilla, could be interesting. In terms of fan speculation, however, a “vs.” movie seems to be more popular than another solo Godzilla movie.
One thing about the Minus One sequel is certain: it will be a fantastic entry into the franchise with an increased budget and director Takashi Yamazaki at the helm. Whether it is a solo G, vs. film, old cast, new cast, or other creative decision, the kaiju-world is salivating for more news about the next entry, but one can only wait for a possible trailer as the film release is years away and there is still a lot left to be known. Vibes around fans of the franchise are very positive, however, as a Minus One sequel and Toho’s commitment to Godzilla marks a time of great excitement.
