Godzilla isn’t hanging up his scales after the release of Godzilla Minus Zero later this year; far from it. The towering kaiju might soon get his own cinematic universe, according to Toho’s aptly named Chief Godzilla Officer, Keiji Ota. Speaking with online Japanese outlet News Picks, Ota notes early plans for an upcoming cinematic universe called “Godzilla World” that could push the franchise to all-new heights.
The strategy isn’t surprising. Toho has already seen just how kaiju-sized the success of a Godzilla cinematic universe can be through Legendary’s MonsterVerse. The franchise is in the spotlight at the moment with a second season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters currently airing on Apple TV Plus, and a third film in the series is set to release early next year, titled Godzilla x Kong: Supernova.
The MonsterVerse cinematic universe isn’t connected to Takashi Yamazaki’s Minus One and Minus Zero films. But what’s most surprising here is that the same might also be true for Toho’s upcoming Godzilla World cinematic universe. Ota says in the interview (according to a translation from Japanese by fan source Kaiju No. 14):
“In addition to the Godzilla films directed by people like Hideaki Anno and Takashi Yamazaki, if Toho creates the original concepts ourselves, we’ll be able to strategically roll out spin-offs as well. Just like Legendary has its ‘MonsterVerse,’ we’re advancing plans to create what we’re calling ‘Godzilla World’.”
Ota specifically highlights both the Minus One films and Shin Godzilla by Hideaki Anno as existing separately or in tandem with the supposed cinematic universe in the works. The Godzilla executive adds later in the interview that “It’s fine to have different versions of Godzilla,” and notes that “Various creators are welcome to join in at any point.” Anyone fancy a Yoko Taro Godzilla movie?
Even more fascinating is how Ota likens the Godzilla franchise to anime, citing it as having the potential to last 50 years or more, whereas anime adaptations tend to end with their manga. Toho is eyeing the potential to keep Godzilla breathing well into the future, and the company is willing to do so in some interesting ways, including, Ota notes: “a Godzilla for children.”
Godzilla has also starred in plenty of his own anime series over the years, the latest being 2021’s Godzilla Singular Point on Netflix. In fact, a new Godzilla anime is currently in production at Orange and Igloo studios, focusing on a boy with the powers of Godzilla.
It’s hard to say if this will be our first introduction to Toho’s new Godzilla World universe, but it will be fun to see where else the kaiju heads in the wake of Godzilla: Minus Zero. The franchise is far vaster than many realize, offering tons of interesting ways to bring its many awesome kaiju to life on-screen.
