Over the course of six decades, Godzilla has made numerous appearances in film, television, comic books, novels, and video games. The iconic monster is instantly recognizable in most corners of the world, and yet America’s largest contribution to his mythology is the embarrassing 1998 remake directed by Roland Emmerich.
However, concepts as elemental as Godzilla are capable of surviving the most dubious of adaptations and it was only a matter of time before someone else decided to take a crack at it. Last March, Legendary Pictures stepped up to the plate and announced their plans to re-imagine the creature’s origin story as “a modern day epic”.
Last month we learned that Gareth Edwards will direct Godzilla and as a big fan of his debut film, Monsters, it’s hard not to be excited by what he’s bringing to the table. Edwards has proven that he’s quite adept at focusing on the human element that’s often overlooked in these types of stories – and while that’s certainly encouraging, there’s still very little known about which direction this new Godzilla will take.
The concept art that was shown at Comic-Con seems to support producer Brian Rogers’ assurance that this will be a return to Godzilla‘s roots (including seeing the titular character battle other monsters), but it remains to be seen whether this will simply be an update of the original 1954 film or something entirely new.
Edwards recently spoke with Shock Till You Drop and not only gave some insight into the approach they’re taking with the new film, but also admitted that his introduction to Godzilla didn’t result in an immediate attraction:
“My earliest memories was channel 4, they showed them every Friday night. As a kid I wasn’t quite sure about the dubbing, the English-dubbed versions. They threw me for a bit. I love science fiction and, well I call them B movies but they’re not, but I love ’60s and ’70s sci-fi. But these would come on and be dubbed and it would take my kid brain to adjust to the dubbing. It took me some time to get through that.”
Despite a less than desirable introduction to the character, Edwards reveals that’s he’s keenly aware of the pressure he’s under and that he intends to deliver a Godzilla film worthy of the moniker:
“I guess I will say I’m highly aware – and everyone involved is incredibly aware – of everyone’s opinions on what this film has to do and what it has to be. And no one will do anything but the right thing. Without addressing anything specific, everyone knows how important is to get it right.”
It seems extremely likely that he’s referring to the 1998 film and the missteps that were made regarding the monster’s origin, appearance, and characterization. It sounds like everyone involved is anxious to wipe the slate clean and get back to basics.
Over the years, Godzilla has been presented as both a menace and a hero. In my opinion, the most successful films are the ones that treat him like a destructive force of nature rather than a super-sized defender of the people who knows martial arts. However, most Godzilla movies have a tongue-in-cheek aspect to them – whether it was intentional or not. It’s probably a big reason why they remain so endearing to a lot of people.
Certainly films like Cloverfield (which was partially inspired by a Godzilla toy) hint at the potential of a no-nonsense approach to the material, but I wonder if there might be a few instances where they’re sort of winking at the audience. Taking into consideration all the different versions we’ve seen of Godzilla over the years, I’m just really curious what sort of tone this new film will have.
Source: Shock Till You Drop.
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Oh no!!!
There goes Tokyo!
What?? I had to!
u mean There goes New York!
remember its Godzilla reboot done by Hollywood the default place is New York
This site needs a like button for your comment alone.
BOC….I got it Nautius! Good job!
I am the biggest GODZILLA fan out there, and I extremely hope they get this right. They should be serious, bring it back to its horror roots, no campy stuff and good actors. I’m glad that Gareth knows what he in, and that he wants to give us a good film.
GOJIRA!!!!!!!
I’m one of the few people who enjoyed the 1998 film. Granted it’s not a TRUE Godzilla film, but it was a fun monster movie just the same.
That being said, I hope Edwards really knocks this one out of the park. I’d love to see a plethora of Godzilla movies in the theater!!!
@ Andy S
You’re not the only one. Only im not a big fan of Godzilla or King Kong except for when i was kid. But i didn’t see all the films so never got into much. Thought it looked all to fake of a monster film, especially King Kong vs. Godzilla. Even though Godzilla didn’t have his fire breath, I did like how he looked more in the 1998 remake film. Looked more badder lookin than the old films. From what i read on the net, compared with other films that year it did make money only it suffered from fan/critic critism alike. Even the animated series that follows that film was review as better than the film was & more liked. That’s all i gotta say about the subject.
You guys aren’t the only ones cause i loved it as well except for the mess they made of my beautiful brooklyn bridge… Everytime they get a chance they destroy it or damage it one way or another.
I got to agree with you. I thought the 98′ Godzilla was cool. It was not a true Godzilla flick but it was a solid giant monster flick.
It was better to have SOMETHING new involving Godzilla; the last film was in 95-96 (Godzilla v. Destroyah). Back then, I probably thought our film would spark Japan to make more movies. As far as this movie is concerned, I think Edwards can pull it off – if he really is partnering with one of TOHO’s Godzilla directors.
Toho Studios made six Godzilla films between 1999-2004:
Godzilla 2000 Millennium
Godzilla X Megaguirus
Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack
Godzilla X Mechagodzilla
Godzilla X Mothra X Mechagodzilla: Tokyo SOS
Godzilla Final Wars
He promised! And we are going to hold him to it!
Needs to be just trashing a city at least for the first one. Don’t bring any other monster into, just test the waters with this just him. Actually seriously is the old school Godzilla a he or a she? Hmmmmm……
I think it’s OK to bring in another monster. GAMERA:GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE was a reboot that featured two monsters fighting, and it worked very well. It gave enough character for the monsters, and the human characters. And yes, Gamera is pretty much Godzilla.
My dream Godzilla movie is one where he emerges from the ocean with no explanation at all, destroys everything in his path, humans attempt to engage him to no avail, he continues to level the city, destruction and death lay in his wake. Roll credits. After credits, 100 years into the future an areal shot pans across miles and miles of old city ruins, active volcanoes, and massive jungles (animals running in opposite direction of camera, then you see a tiny figure in the horizon as it gets closer you see it’s Godzilla still walking across the planet. As you pan past him you see hundreds of birds flocking around him, continuing forward you notice a darkness across the land you see a couple of futuristic scouting vehicles driving in Godzilla’s direction millions of futuristic tanks with huge lasers and rockets follow, accompanied by thousands of flying saucer looking objects, like the whole world came together to seek an end to the common threat. -End of Part One.
Part Two would be about how due to “New Environmental Conditions” (Godzilla) we were forced to build new cities on higher ground sort of like a “second level” and now it’s time to take back the “first level” and take down the Beast in an all out war to end all wars. Cut! That’s a wrap!
-That’s just me though.
Easy, I think if they approach Godzilla like a weapon, a manufactured monster/anti-hero it’d be great. How do you “out-weapon” a “living weapon” Made up of the devestation and horrors of humanity’s own creation, like the H-Bomb. Also they should shoot it in Japan, because he’s reborn there & because of WWII. Touchy subject at the time of his debut film but that’s why it sticks out from other giant monster movies. I’m skeptical but also excited to see how they’ll pull this off. If they’ll throw in past references. Oh, and he better be charcoal ‘grey’ he has never been green. only in America.
THAT… would be AWESOME!!!
I’ll see it as long as this Godzilla A)Breaths FIRE B) DOESN’T Run away from BULLETS! OR EAT FISH!!! Basically If erases the travesty that was Godzilla 1998 which I should left after seeing the Trailer for Mask of Zorro. This guy seems to have an idea of what the fans expect so I’ll wait and see what he can do with it.
Gareth Edwards didn’t get Monsters right. I’m not holding my breath.
http://robotchicken.wikia.com/wiki/Godzilla_Remade_Again
Look – do not retell the origin – there is way too much history and we all know it – that’s what the previous AM version did. Modernize his look – make him move like an animal but not like a lizard, stay away form the aliens and wacky spaceship deal, keep it modern and current and real. Stay with what we all will want to see. A real pissed off, modern, aggressive, nuke blast spraying Godzilla. The last few Toho flicks seemed to get it with exception of the wacky spaceship alien deal – that’s just stupid man. Don’t try to have some ecological and environmental message in it – we all know that nukes are bad – In simple term – Use the past as a guild of what NOT to do and just don’t “f” this up man!
Aren’t these just repetitions of the same platitudes we have already heard?
Dude, show, dont tell…
As long as it is not campy and no baby faced Matthew Broderick looking actors then a sense of realism can be achieved. No slap stick dialogue. Have it follow in the foot steps of Full Metal Jacket, kick ass realism, period.
Sorry, I don’t buy his promise. Most likely, it’s going to be awful. Hollywood’s involved, which handicaps the movie right out the gate. It’s going to pander too much to young audiences and also try to pull in as many demographics as possible, meaning it’s going to be one big mess, just like the Star Wars prequels.
Really hope they get this one right, granted I was 8 when the american remake came out so needless to say I loved it haha, but yeah anyways where is our sequel to Cloverfield? lol
Despite being CGI, i thought the 98′ American version Godzilla looked better only i was disappointed no fire breath. Hey, put the cloverfield monster in there with Godzilla in the next remake & see if the big guy to take the ugly baby monster down since nothin else seems to. <<<< Sarcasm,Ha Ha.
I think they just wanted to make Godzilla (In Name Only for that film) realistic. But you CAN’T make a 200ft lizard realistic.
Is this a reboot, a re-reboot, or even a re- re-reboot, I’ve lost track?
look all this will need is a good menacing kick-ass monster rendering of Godzilla, one serious foe and great graphics and i am in. don’t do much with humans. make us the back drop of these movie(s). this really needs to monster specific and (serious) for it to work. look at transformers it only criticism is the stupid human part bay added it should be about the robots with us in the back ground, we don’t do any of these great stories well when we are the center piece of the drama. action with great special effects. was star wars great because of the acting or the speical effects of the time make it pop. aliens, predators godzilla of old the amazing eye popping thought that the visual invoked (is this really a giantic monster fight who or whatever in front of me with 3D and todays tech its all here just do it righ like transformers is great looking kick-ass robots in amazing fights with cool music, follow the blue print but make Godzilla the man/beast/god which ever you chose but for god sake do not make it about how people feel and figure out how to fight the greatest monster to ever be seen on the big screen here you chance you got the backing, money and technology to make this “THAT” Movie don’t make the same mistake bay made with transfers ghetto robots really alien being from across the universe talking like their from compton, kinda stupid. please no more stupid transformers stuff, just monsters busting ass everywhere from the first 5 minutes to the ending credits, so good you leave the movie and go right to the ticket counter to get another ticket because your brain overloaded with all the amazing stuff that you just saw. yeah just like that. big G fan since 67.
I HAVE BEEN A GODZILLA FAN SINCE BACK IN THE 1960, WITH MY FIRST MOVIE EVER SEEN IN THE OLD MAURIN MOVIE THEATRE IN RESERVE, LOUISIANA WHEN MY FATHER TOOK ME TO SEE A DOUBLE FEATURE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, THE MOVIE IN QUESTION WERE BACK THEN “{ THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK // GODZILLA vs MEGALON [ THE GIANT COCKROACH ] }” THAT WAS MY VERY FIRST GODZILLA MOVIE EVER SEEN, and I HAVE BEEN IN LOVE EVER SINCE, SINCE THEN I AM NOW 52 YEARS OLD, AND I NOW OWN EVERY GODZILLA MOVIE EVER MADE FROM 1954 TO PRESENT, and I AM EXCITED AS HELL ON THE 2012 NEW AMERICAN RELEASE OF GODZILLA, MY “B” MOVIE HERO ?????
I upset we can’t get anymore info on the reboot would love to go see a movie and see the trailer for Godzilla that would be so cool
Godzilla = The Hulk x200
The biggest hero, with an attitude… ever.
He better be The Force of Nature.
He better be scarier than the bad guy.
He better make us laugh.
Godzilla Facts:
Techniques:
- Atomic Ray:
The signature move of all incarnations of Godzilla.
There are two separate organs within Godzilla’s internal structure (a “uranium sac” and a “nuclear reaction sac”) that help generate the necessary components, presumably mixing together before rising up through the neck and into the mouth, whereupon Godzilla releases it externally to massive damage.
Powers and Abilities:
Super-strength, super-speed, super-durability, super-senses, constantly emitting radiation from its body, amphibious lifestyle, can project a blast of thermonuclear steam [1955 - 1962] or flame [1964 - 1975] from its mouth, regeneration (“level-3″ to “level-4″), expert combatant, can survive in non-oxygenated atmospheres [1965], can absorb electricity for empowerment [1966 onwards], can simulate flight over short distances with energy-projection [1971 onwards], magnetic field-generation [1974 onwards]
- Regeneration: Thanks to nuclear radiation altering his cellular structure, Godzilla’s healing factor has been massively accelerated, to the degree that physical wounds and superficial injuries can be healed completely in a short span.
Let’s face it. We would all like to be Godzilla for a day. Comes to town once in awhile for a good time like a drunken sailor. Has to get stuff out of his system and destroys whatever’s in his way. Modern technology is totally useless against an invincible force of nature gone nuts. He’s laughing at pesky creatures as he blasts them into cosmic dust. After he’s feeling better about himself, casually stomps back home into the sea from whence he came. Oh yeah, feels mighty good to be him for a day if you know what I mean. Let’s hope they get it right the next time he comes to town. Charcoal grey and big time grumpy.
PLEASE, Gareth, NO battles with other monsters (save that for the sequel,
if any). The Big G confronting another monster would demote this ‘realistic’ remake to the level of those silly Toho productions of the 60s.
I AM THE ULTIMATE GODZILLA FAN and COLLECTOR OF ALL OF THE MOVIES HE HAS MADE IN THE LAST 60 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN IN LOVE WITH ALL OF THE MOVIES, SINCE I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE FAMOUS MOVIE MONSTER BACK IN 1954, AFTER BEING BORN IN 1959, I OWN ALL OF THE MOVIES BOTH ON DVD and VIDEO TAPE, BOTH COLOR and BLACK & WHITE REELS, AND ALL OF THE ORIGINAL JAPANESE MOVIE RELEASES PLAYED IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE and SUB-TITLED IN ENGLISH, I HAVE SPENT A LIFE-TIME COLLECTING THE MOVIES and HAVE THEM INSURED FOR TOTAL FACE VALUE, SO I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE DEBUT OF THE 2014 NEW RELEASE OF THE NEW ORIGINAL GODZILLA MOVIE COMING SOON,
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING HIM BACK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME ?????
Monsters? Are you serious? One of the worst films ever produced, and THIS guy is at the helm of the new Godzilla movie. Jesus Christ!
The benchmark: Gojira (1954) The original Japanese masterpiece. Shot in black and white (a most films were back then)and not understanding Japanese produced a terror, sadness, both for the monster and the people. Before the goofy Godzilla movies followed this is one of the finest monster flicks. It’s images, creepy silence, soundtrack, and post-nuclear fears produced something I’ll never get over. It’s lingered a lifetime. If anyone can produce anything close to this then I’ll be the first in line to see it. (Some things can’t be topped) We’ll see.
The benchmark: Gojira (1954) The original Japanese masterpiece. Shot in black and white (as most monster films were done back then)and not understanding Japanese produced a terror, sadness, both for the monster and the people. Before the goofy Godzilla movies followed this is one of the finest monster flicks. It’s images, creepy silence, soundtrack, and post-nuclear fears produced something I’ll never get over. It’s lingered a lifetime. If anyone can produce anything close to this then I’ll be the first in line to see it. (Some things can’t be topped) We’ll see.