Will this mark the final end of the phenomenal creature’s appearance on the big screens? Well, here’s everything we know about Godzilla Minus One’s release date, cast, trailer, as well as the meaning behind its title!
Godzilla is stomping its way back into theaters just in time for the holidays. With the Monsterverse continuing to expand its ever-growing franchise, Godzilla Minus One is setting up another rampage from the aforementioned monster.
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When is Godzilla Minus One’s Release Date?
Since the newest installment of the 500-foot-tall lizard was created by Japan, the film will be released in its home country first and foremost on November 3rd this year.
Thanks to its theatrical debut, Godzilla Minus One earned itself the biggest IMAX opening ever in the history of live-action Japanese releases in Japan. It ranked fourth-highest live-action IMAX opening while being the fifth-highest IMAX local film locally.
Meanwhile, Godzilla Minus One will be making its theatrical debut on Friday, December 1, in Canada and the United States.
This marks the latest return of the King of the Kaiju since Toho’s Shin Godzilla, which was way back in July 2016, on top of the many American-based movies for the franchise including 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
However, it is worth mentioning that Godzilla Minus One will not be the last time we’ll be seeing the iconic creature on the big screens. Warner Bros. has plans for a Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, which is slated for its release by 2024.
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Who Are the Creatives and Cast of Godzilla Minus One?
Godzilla Minus One wouldn’t have come to fruition if it weren't for its creatives. This marks the first Godzilla movie that Takashi Yamazaki has ever directed.
The Japanese Academy Film Prize-winning director has also notably worked on other sci-fi action movies such as Parasyte: Part 1 and Parasyte: Part 2, including the CGI-based anime, Dragon Quest: Your Story.
Apart from being the helmer of the Gojira reboot, Yamazaki is also responsible for the writing of the screenplay and for being the visual effects director.
Godzilla Minus One has a wide variety of acclaimed Japanese actors on its roster, with the two most prominent being Rynosuke Kamiki (2001’s Spirited Away) and his Ranman (2023) co-star, Minami Hamabe.
Here’s the list of actors set to star in the upcoming return of the kaiju to the big screens:
- Ryunosuke Kamiki as Koichi Shikishima
- Minami Hamabe as Noriko Oishi
- Yuki Yamada as Shiro Mizushima
- Munetaka Aoki as Sosaku Tachibana
- Hidetaka Yoshioka as Kenji Nada
- Sakura Ando as Sumiko Ota
- Kuranosuke Sasaki as Yoji Akitsu
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What Will Godzilla Minus One Be About? Meaning of the Title Explained
Godzilla diehards are well aware that the monster first wreaked havoc in 1954. The beginning of the Gojira chronicles revolved around Japan having to deal with the sudden appearance of the giant creature.
Thanks to the underwater tests of Hydrogen bombs, the 500-foot-tall monster emerged from the shadows and lashed out at humanity for destroying its home and family.
With Godzilla Minus One featuring the return of the familiar monster, there may be questions revolving around the film’s connection with the previous Godzilla movie, Shin Godzilla (2016).
To be clear, the film is not at all related to the 2016 motion picture. However, it does spotlight the same titular kaiju.
The official synopsis for Godzilla Minus One reads:
Japan’s most desperate situation in history. After the war, Japan is reduced to nothing and Godzilla emerges, pushing the country into a dire state.”
The President of Toho International, Koji Ueda, recently unveiled the mystery behind the title of the next Gojira installment:
“Set in a post-war Japan, Godzilla Minus One will once again show us a Godzilla that is a terrifying and overwhelming force, which you already get a sense of from the teaser trailer and poster. The concept is that Japan, which had already been devastated by the war, faces a new threat with Godzilla, bringing the country into the ‘minus.’”
Godzilla Minus One’s official trailer seemingly depicts that this is not the first time the nation has witnessed utter chaos and destruction from the titular kaiju.
In fact, one particular line indicates that the monster has been there before, “That monster will never forgive us” which ties in nicely with what Ueda stated in regards to the horrific aspect of the film.
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Is There a Trailer for Godzilla Minus One?
The classic Godzilla is stomping right back into theaters as the official trailer for Godzilla Minus One has been released! You can check out the full trailer below:
Then, on October 19th, we got another teaser for Godzilla Minus One, where a 15-second clip shows us the first time the giant monster made his steps onto land:
Just three weeks ago, on November 3, Toho Studios published the second official trailer as a countdown for its December 1 premiere:
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