Film news: Toho unveils title for sequel to Oscar-winning ‘Godzilla Minus One’
Renowned Japanese film studio Toho made a big impression in 2023 with Godzilla Minus One.
With a modest budget and a gripping plot, the latest in a long line of films about the legendary Kaiju made an Oscar-winning impression.
Film News Blitz’s Dan Lawrence writes of an update regarding the film’s sequel.
‘Godzilla Minus Zero’
In the early hours of Monday, Toho revealed a short teaser for the Godzilla Minus One sequel, unveiling its title: Godzilla Minus Zero.
Moreover, it was revealed that visionary VFX supervisor, writer and director Takashi Yamazaki is crafting the follow-up, which doesn’t have a concrete release date.
Little is also known about the plot, or whether the core characters from the original film will return.
But it’s definitely exciting to know that this film is in production and Godzilla fans will hope it picks up the baton from its uber-successful forerunner.
What was ‘Godzilla Minus One’ about?
Godzilla Minus One took the franchise back to its roots, and far from the over-stylised, hero-worshipping releases coming from Legendary Pictures in the U.S.
No, instead, Godzilla Minus One showcased its kaiju as a fear-inducing, city-levelling menace, hellbent on wreaking havoc from a Japan just starting to recover from the devastating effects of World War II.
At the story’s centre was Ryunosuke Kamiki’s Koichi, a former kamikaze pilot who seeks to build a new life following the end of the war.
While attempting to reconcile his crisis of confidence, absence of courage and developing family situation, Koichi must stand up and be counted in the fight against Godzilla.
Why was ‘Godzilla Minus One’ a success?
Godzilla Minus One succeeded on multiple fronts.
One, it was grounded in the very real context of post-war Japan, with Godzilla’s methods of destruction a particularly potent reflection of the nuclear devastation that was employed against Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
Second, the characters were well-crafted and endured circumstances that made audiences feel empathy for them and emotionally invested in their hopeful success.
Koichi, the reluctant hero, is given something profound to lose in his fight with Godzilla, forming a family unit with Minami Hamabe’s Noriko and the orphan child they adopt together.
Moreover, the war veterans that Koichi partners with in the fight against Godzilla all have demons they wish to exercise en route to victory against the towering mutant lizard.
Finally, Godzilla Minus One crafted very compelling special and visual effects from a relatively modest budget of $15 million - comparable to the results achieved by mega Hollywood films with ten times the finances.
The result was an international gross of $105 million, a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 99% and an Oscar win in Best Achievement in Visual Effects.
What is certain is that Godzilla Minus One has set a tough act for Godzilla Minus Zero to follow.
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