Written, produced, and directed by Yoshikazu Ishii (Attack of the Giant Teacher, Yuzo: The Biggest Battle in Tokyo, Ultraman Saga), this is the third independent kaiju film to be helmed by Ishii. The film was partially shot in November 2024, followed by a Campfire crowdfunding campaign in December, with the aim of raising 1,000,000 yen (approximately $ 6,400 USD). The campaign ran for over a month and ended on January 31st, 2025, with a grand total of (almost 11,000 USD). Filming occurred over the next few months. The aim of the film, according to Ishii, is:
I still want to create new special effects monster movies that are unique to Japan… to produce a film that will inspire the next generation of creators to think, “I want to try filming with special effects too.”
Produced by Ishii’s own company, Team Better Tomorrow, the film is nearing the final stages of post production with a planned 2026 release. In December 2025, on the director’s birthday, he released the first look at the film’s poster with the titular Giladio roaring at audiences. Towards the bottom of the poster, we also finally received the title for this film: “Gladio: The Giant Monster from Another World” [Iku Daikaiju Giraadio]『異空大怪獣グラ―ディオ』.
The synopsis for the upcoming film reads:
One Sunday, Suzuki Reiichi and Morita Natsuko are on a typical date when they get involved in an accident and lose consciousness. When they wake up, they find themselves in a virtual world that appears to be an exact replica of the real world… Suddenly! A monster appears and goes on a rampage… putting the two in danger. Will they be able to defeat the monster and return to their real world, or will they never return?
So far, the crew that’s been publicly released includes Toshio Miike as the Special Effects Art Director, his work on the “Heisei Gamera Series,” “Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack,” (2001) “Ultraman Saga” (2012), “Daimajin Kanon” (2010) and many other special effects titles, helped the team create satisfying images that will thrill audiences.
The cast and remaining crew have yet to be announced, but more information will be released as the film draws closer to its release. While nothing is currently set, an international release is planned.
About Yoshikazu Ishii:
His involvement with special effects began when he was invited to work as special effects staff by Special Effects Director Kawakita Koichi for Toho. After working as an assistant director in the special effects department for films such as “Godzilla: Final Wars” (2004), “Aegis of the Exiled Country” (2005), and “Ultraman Mebius” (2006-2007), he became a director (and special effects director) for the TV series “Ultraman Ginga” (2013).
Since then, he has become more active in his own production activities and produced the ultra-low-budget film “Attack of the Giant Teacher” (2019), which had its world premiere at G-Fest in Chicago, Illinois, and was released on Blu-ray and DVD in the US by SRS Cinema. Recently, he has independently produced another special effects movie titled “Yuzo: The Biggest Battle in Tokyo” (2022), which has been shown and won awards at various overseas film festivals and was released to theaters in Japan. It has also been released on Blu-ray and DVD in the United States, France, and Japan.
