‘Godzilla Minus One’ Director Takashi Yamazaki Turned Down Multiple Offers – And Maybe One From Marvel – To Focus On The Sequel To His Kaiju-Sized Hit

Takashi
Takashi Yamazaki | Exclusive Interview | Prime 1 Studio, YouTube

Takashi Yamazaki will be back for Toho’s next Godzilla film, which will be a follow-up to a very tough act to follow, Godzilla Minus One. That film’s success made another installment that could possibly be a sequel inevitable, but it wasn’t Yamazaki’s only choice for his next project.

Godzilla approaches a Japanese vessel in Godzilla Minus One (2023), Toho Co., Ltd
Godzilla approaches a Japanese vessel in Godzilla Minus One (2023), Toho Co., Ltd

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The filmmaker and visual effects artist has become an overnight success in many ways, and has had several offers sent his way. “I started receiving all kinds of great (film) offers,” he revealed at Godzilla Fest 2024, “I can’t tell you what offers they were. I turned them down, crying tears of blood, because they were making a new Godzilla movie.”

Via Japanese site Cinema Today, Yamazaki added, “Godzilla-1.0 went a little too well, and a lot of hurdles have come up. Thinking about it, I feel like this might be the worst draw.” Despite that comment, he assured the fans present, “I’ll do my best!”

Tokyo in flames again
The military engages Godzilla in Godzilla Minus One (2023), Toho Co. Ltd.

RELATED: Toho Announces ‘Godzilla Minus One’ Director Takashi Yamazaki Is Helming The Next Film

While he is tight-lipped, the director may have let it slip that he received an offer from Marvel – or at least that they had a conversation. “It seems they [overseas] also like steady fighting styles like Operation Wadatsumi. Even the president of Marvel [Kevin Feige] told me that. He said, ‘We’re all having meetings every day about whether we can create a plot development like that.'”

“Operation Wadatsumi” is a reference to the naval offensive used in Minus One to defeat Godzilla with the power of the ocean. Named after a Japanese water deity not so different from Gojira, the climactic scene got a superlative reaction at New York Comic Con.

Producer Kevin Feige attends the Ant-Man and The Wasp Quantumania World Premiere at the Regency Village Theatre on Monday, February 6, 2023 in Westwood, CA. (Photo:Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

RELATED: Kevin Feige Confirms Marvel Timelines And Universes Will “Crash Or Converge”

Kevin Feige and Yamazaki could’ve met there and might have talked business. The latter’s confession of offers makes such an incident and its implications entirely plausible. However, we won’t know for sure until either side is able to come totally clean.

Therefore, for now, Yamazaki is laser-focused on Godzilla and will take his time. “It’ll take a little longer, but I’ll do my best to make a Godzilla film that will surpass Godzilla-1.0, so please look forward to it! Thank you very much,” he said as his Godzilla Fest appearance drew to a close.

Smoky G Bear
Bringing the smoke for a sequel in Godzilla Minus One (2023), Toho Co. Ltd.

Just as there are no solid details about the next Godzilla or known working titles, no tentative release window has been hinted at either.

READ NEXT: Alleged Plot Leak Of ‘Godzilla Minus One’ Claims Toho Film Has Two Kaiju, Remakes 1954 Original

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