Godzilla Minus One producer on franchise future and why story and character come first

One of our favourite movies here at FTN HQ last year was, without question Godzilla Minus One.

A proper throwback to a time when storytelling and character were the most important things, even in a movie about a giant monster destroying a city, it gave us characters we cared about in a terrifying situation that had us all waiting with bated breath. It was a near-perfect movie, surpassing anything Hollywood has thrown out in years.

Of course, on leaving the cinema there were discussions of sequels, spinoffs and where the story goes next and, after the enthusiastic talking about other monsters and craziness that could come next, we started to worry that perhaps, now that it’s a genuine phenomenon across the globe, a sequel would be rushed into, perhaps ruining fantastic foundations they built here, but it seems we need not have worried.

Godzilla Minus One director met with Lucasfilm’s Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni

“I don’t feel the need to rush the next live-action film. Good films are all about quality. We want great ideas, an excellent script, a talented director, and the right cast to work on it carefully,” says Godzilla Minus One producer Minami Ichikawa on plans for a sequel, and what a revolutionary idea this is; if this were a modern Hollywood movie we would already have a release date for a sequel plus announcements of spinoffs, animated shows and a video game. But not here. Here they want to wait until the story is just right and can do justice to Minus One.

Now, this isn’t to say that Ichikawa and director Takashi Yamazaki aren’t also looking at ways to build out the story, they obviously are: “We’re collectively considering the future of the Godzilla character. We’ve had things like animated Godzilla films in the past, so we’re brainstorming new avenues to expand the Godzilla universe,” Ichikawa adds.

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Now, don’t get me wrong, if there was a sequel, spinoff or series out tomorrow, I’d be first to check it out but the old phrase that good things come to those who wait is applicable here and, in a time of instant gratification and dwindling attention spans, that’s a great thing. If they can make a movie even almost as good as Minus One, then I’m happy to wait as long as it takes.

Oh, and, as a side note, did you know that the title Minus One refers to how, at the end of the War, Japan was at its lowest possible point and when Godzilla attacked it was even worse, it was Minus One? No, well you do now.

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WATCH: Awesome poster and trailer drop for Godzilla Minus One/Minus Colour