Godzilla Minus Zero

"Minus Zero" redirects here. For other uses, see Signed zero.
Godzilla Minus Zero
American teaser poster
Directed byTakashi Yamazaki
Written byTakashi Yamazaki
Produced byKazuaki Kishida
Production
companies
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • November 3, 2026 (2026-11-03) (Japan)
CountryJapan

Godzilla Minus Zero (Japanese: ゴジラ-0.0（マイナスゼロ）, Hepburn: Gojira Mainasu Zero) is an upcoming Japanese kaiju film written, directed, and with visual effects supervised by Takashi Yamazaki. A sequel to Godzilla Minus One (2023), it is the 39th film in the Godzilla franchise, the 34th film by Toho, and the sixth installment in the franchise's Reiwa era.[a]

Following the international success of Godzilla Minus One, Toho announced in November 2024 that another Yamazaki-helmed Godzilla film had been greenlit. By February 2025, Yamazaki had begun screenwriting and storyboarding the follow-up. In April 2025, Toho International's president, Kōji Ueda, clarified that the new film would be a sequel, planned for a 2026 release. Principal photography commenced in August 2025 and wrapped by December, taking place in Japan, New Zealand, and Norway. The film's title was announced in November 2025. Shirogumi will handle the visual effects.

Godzilla Minus Zero is scheduled to be released on November 3, 2026 in Japan, and November 6 in the United States.

Production

Development

Godzilla Minus One (2023) was seen as a major success in Japan and the Western world, becoming one of the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time and winning the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects among its many accolades. On November 1, 2024, the film's director Takashi Yamazaki was confirmed to helm another Godzilla film, first announced during Godzilla Minus One's Japanese television broadcast on Nippon Television's Friday Road Show.[3] At that time, Toho did not disclose if it would be a direct sequel to Godzilla Minus One or a standalone film.[4] At the 23rd Visual Effects Society Awards on February 11 2025, Yamazaki revealed scripting and storyboarding of his follow-up was ongoing and expected a budget higher than that of Godzilla Minus One's, which cost less than US$15 million.[5]

Pre-production

In June 2025, the Agency for Cultural Affairs-commissioned "Film Staff Development Project" disclosed that filming for Yamazaki's next movie would take place from early August to December 2025, and they were seeking film students to recruit.[6] On July 17, Bloomberg News reported that Toho International's president, Kōji Ueda, clarified that the new Godzilla film would be a sequel and a 2026 release was currently planned.[7] On July 27, the site yamazakimovie-extra.jp was launched to find volunteer extras for the film from August to September. It recycled the Blockbuster Monster Movie (temp) (Japanese: 超大作怪獣映画(仮)) placeholder used for Minus One during pre-production and confirmed Toho would be financing with Robot Communications, featuring an all-star Japanese cast.[8]

Filming

Principal photography took place with extras on location in Ibaraki Prefecture from August 30 to September 14.[8] Additional shooting is set to take place in New Zealand and Norway, according to The Hollywood Reporter.[9] Filming is expected to wrap in late December.[6]

Extra recruitment reports also state that due to the film's historical drama setting, there would be restrictions on the extras' costume sizes, hairstyles, and hair colors (with hair dyeing being prohibited) for those participating as extras. A scene featuring Japanese maintenance soldiers was shot at a temple in Maizuru on November 3, which was Godzilla Day in Japan.[10] Filming occurred around Seijōgakuen-mae Station on November 25,[11] and will take place in Inashiki District, Ibaraki on December 15.[12]

At the opening ceremony of Godzilla Fest 2025, held on November 3, 2025 (Japan Standard Time) at the Tokyo Dome City Hall, Toho unveiled the official title of Yamazaki's next Godzilla feature as Godzilla Minus Zero.[9] A teaser logo, personally illustrated by Yamazaki, was shown.[9] Yamazaki said via a pre-recorded message that he was unable to attend the festival since he is currently filming Minus Zero.[13] It was also announced that Shirogumi will handle VFX; and production is shared between Toho Studios and Robot Communications.[14] Industry sources told The Hollywood Reporter the same day that "the new film is being positioned not just as a sequel but as a statement piece".[9] Plot details, cast confirmations, and an exact premiere date remain undisclosed.[9][13]

On December 10, Yamazaki finished that day's filming at 5:00 p.m. and then made a surprise appearance at a Tokyo event for James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash. During their onstage conversation, Cameron expressed enthusiasm for Godzilla Minus Zero and offered to direct the film's second unit if it fell behind schedule. Yamazaki responded with laughter, saying that Cameron's scenes would be so impressive that he himself would be left with no directing work to do.[15]

Release

Godzilla Minus Zero is scheduled to be released in Japan on November 3, 2026, and North America on November 6, 2026.[16][17] This timing adheres to the longstanding Toho–Legendary Pictures agreement that prohibits competing Godzilla films from releasing in the same calendar year, as previously seen with Godzilla Minus One (2023) and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024). Legendary's next Monsterverse entry, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, is set for 2027.[18] On January 9, 2026, the film was announced to be distributed by Toho's subsidiary GKIDS in North American theatres on November 6, 2026, three days after its Japanese release date on November 3, 2026.[17][16]

Marketing and Promotion

It was announced that footage from the film would be released at CinemaCon at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 14th, 2026, with Yamazaki presenting.[19]

Notes

  1. ^ Japan's Reiwa era began on May 1, 2019,[1] however, Toho considers Shin Godzilla (2016) and the Polygon Pictures anime trilogy – Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (2017), Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle, and Godzilla: The Planet Eater (both 2018) – as part of the Reiwa era.[2]

References

  1. ^ Euan McKirdy; Junko Ogura; James Griffiths (April 1, 2019). "'Reiwa': Japan announces dawn of a new era". CNN. Archived from the original on October 12, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  2. ^ Skipper, Graham (September 15, 2022). Godzilla: The Official Guide to the King of the Monsters. Toho. Welbeck Publishing Group. p. 217. ISBN 978-1787398993.
  3. ^ "ゴジラ新作映画、山崎貴監督・脚本・VFXで製作決定！ : 映画ニュース". 映画.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  4. ^ Whitbrook, James (November 1, 2024). "Godzilla Minus One's Takashi Yamazaki Is Making Another Godzilla Movie". Gizmodo. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  5. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (2025-02-12). "'Godzilla Minus One' Director Takashi Yamazaki; 'Here' VFX Pros Weigh In on AI at VES Awards". Variety. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  6. ^ a b "募集中: 山崎貴監督最新作（主な監督作：『ALWAYS 三丁目の夕日 』『永遠の0』『ゴジラ-1.0』）". cinema-intern.bunka.go.jp (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on June 18, 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  7. ^ Kim, Sohee (17 July 2025). "Godzilla Conquered Japan. Now Its Owner Plots a Global Takeover". Bloomberg News. Retrieved November 4, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ^ a b "東宝新作映画『超大作怪獣映画（仮）』最新作 ボランティアエキストラさん大募集!!" [Toho's Latest Film Blockbuster Monster Movie (Tentative): Huge Recruitment of Volunteer Extras!!]. yamazakimovie-extra.jp. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e Brzeski, Patrick (November 3, 2025). "Japan's Toho Studios Reveals Title for Next Godzilla Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 4, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ^ "【１１月３日(月)京都府・舞鶴泉源寺にて★予備日】東宝新作映画『超大作怪獣映画(仮)』最新作よりエキストラ募集 | エキストラ募集・エキストラ情報｜EKISUTORA.INFO｜株式会社トループ". ekisutora.info. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  11. ^ "山崎貴監督『超大作怪獣映画（仮）』 | エキストラ募集・エキストラ情報｜EKISUTORA.INFO｜株式会社トループ". ekisutora.info. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  12. ^ "【１２月１５日(月)茨城県・稲敷郡にて】東宝新作映画『超大作怪獣映画(仮)』最新作よりエキストラ募集 | エキストラ募集・エキストラ情報｜EKISUTORA.INFO｜株式会社トループ". ekisutora.info. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  13. ^ a b "Godzilla Minus Zero Title Reveal Ignites Fans at Godzilla Fest 2025". Godzilla.com. Toho International. November 3, 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  14. ^ "Godzilla Minus Zero - News Roundup". Toho Kingdom. 2025-11-03. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  15. ^ Shoji, Satoru, ed. (December 10, 2025). "James Cameron Tells Godzilla Director Takashi Yamazaki "I'll Come Help You"". Oricon. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  16. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 9, 2026). "'Godzilla Minus Zero' Sets Fall Theatrical Release". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  17. ^ a b Aaron Couch (January 9, 2026). "'Godzilla Minus Zero' Sets November Release in Theaters". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  18. ^ Nelson, Samantha (November 3, 2025). "The sequel to Godzilla Minus One gets title and release window". Polygon. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  19. ^ Kennedy French (Mar 9, 2026). "'Godzilla Minus Zero' First Look Set for CinemaCon as Takashi Yamazaki Joins GKIDS Presentation". Variety. Retrieved Mar 14, 2026.
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