Godzilla Unleashed: Mind-Blowing First Footage, Epic Redesign & Unveiled Plot Twists in New Toho Movie

The initial footage of Godzilla Minus One has been unveiled online. This film marks the 33rd installment of the Godzilla series produced by Toho, the 37th in the overall franchise, and the eighth film in Godzilla's Reiwa era. The Reiwa era began with Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi's Shin Godzilla, transitioning to Netflix's animated trilogy. Takashi Yamazaki, renowned for directing Stand by Me Doraemon and Lupin III: The First, has written, produced, and directed Godzilla Minus One.

On Twitter, the official Godzilla Toho page has shared the first teaser trailer for Godzilla Minus One. Accompanying the trailer is a poster that confirms the movie's North American release date on December 1. Take a look at the trailer and poster for Godzilla Minus One below:

The Godzilla Minus One teaser offers a tantalizing glimpse at Godzilla's redesigned appearance within the backdrop of post-war Japan. Additionally, it provides a chilling portrayal of Godzilla's destructive power without divulging excessive details. Moreover, the accompanying poster provides a clearer depiction of Godzilla's new look in the upcoming franchise installment, with the tagline "From the ashes of war" intensifying anticipation for the era portrayed in the film.

Everything We Know About Godzilla Minus One

Not much is known about the main cast of Godzilla Minus One, but the film will take place in post-war Japan. After the devastating effects of World War II, Godzilla emerges as a new threat to the country. In an interview with Forbes, Toho's Koji Ueda explains that Godzilla brings Japan into a state of "minus" following the war. This means that the movie is not a direct sequel to Shin Godzilla or the animated films, but rather takes place before the events of those installments.

Although few details have been revealed about how Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One will connect, they will share continuity with Anno and Higuchi's film. This movie is part of Toho's new initiative to promote Godzilla worldwide and revitalize a franchise that has been a staple of pop culture for nearly 70 years. The first film of the Reiwa era, Shin Godzilla, was both a critical and commercial success, earning over $78 million globally and becoming the highest-grossing live-action Japanese movie of 2016.

The Godzilla franchise is a lucrative enterprise, even with its American adaptation, known as the MonsterVerse, experiencing both triumphs and disappointments. Although the 2014 film "Godzilla" found commercial success, its follow-up, "Godzilla: King of the Monsters," underperformed. Conversely, Adam Wingard's "Godzilla vs. Kong" was widely regarded as a triumph, shattering numerous box office records amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to eagerly awaiting the release of "Godzilla Minus One," fans can also look forward to the sequel "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," slated for theaters in 2024.