At one time, the Godzilla franchise seemed like outdated science fiction with limited future cinematic prospects. Not only did Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse change those perceptions, but Toho’s Godzilla Minus One proved the 50-meter-tall radioactive dinosaur could deliver an Oscar-worthy performance. Toho recently announced a sequel to Minus One, demonstrating that an “old, outdated” subgenre can still score big - a $116 million global gross on a $15 million budget - in international theaters.
Director Takashi Yamazaki will return to helm the sequel to Toho’s latest entry in the long-running franchise. The character-driven aspect of Godzilla Minus One made the film compelling while delivering enough kaiju action to maintain a thrilling, action-packed pace. Screen Rant mentions that the somewhat forgotten monster, Biollante, may face off against the King of the Monsters in the next outing.
The unconfirmed nemesis first appeared in Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989), the sequel to Godzilla 1985 and the film that boosted interest in the Heisei era series of films. Scheduling a battle with a fellow giant monster after a solo feature harkens back to the original Godzilla sequel, Godzilla Raids Again (1955), which showcased the title creature’s battle with the heavily armored Anguirus.
Resurrecting Godzilla
Destroy All Monsters (1968) reflected what fans loved about the original Godzilla series. Unfortunately, excluding Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (1971), most 1970s films suffered from low budgets and poor quality. Ironically, one of the better Godzilla films, Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975), performed poorly and ended the series. Even when the series returned in 1985 to moderate success, it was not until Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) that it gained fan acclaim and renewed financial momentum.
Godzilla enthusiasts may be enjoying a new golden age of giant monsters. In addition to another installment from Toho, Legendary announced a 2027 follow-up to Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024). Audiences can appreciate a big-budget studio film and a more personal one catering to hardcore fans.