Godzilla Returns

The monster lizard from Japan with the nuclear halitosis is set for another attempt at Hollywood fame

What’s that coming over the hill? Is it a another attempt to make a blockbuster movie out of Japan’s favourite fiery-breathed, city-destroying giant lizard? Seems so.

According to The Hollywood Reporter ’s Heat Vision Blog , Godzilla is set for another US-made, big screen starring role. Legendary Pictures, the company behind such films as Batman Begins and Superman Returns , has bought the rights to develop a new film based on the Toho Company character. Warner Bros will co-finance and distribute the film. No news yet on a possible director.

“Godzilla is one of the world's most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be able to create a modern epic based on this long-loved Toho franchise,” said Thomas Tull, chairman and CEO of Legendary. “Our plans are to produce the Godzilla that we, as fans, would want to see. We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop culturally relevant for as long as it has.”

Which sounds like code for, “It’s not going to be like Roland Emmerich’s Godzilla in 1998… honest peeps!” That film was met with a resounding, “meh”. Fans were up in arms about ’Zilla getting a sex change, and looking more like a mutant crocodile than the Godzilla they knew and loved; everyone else just wondered why it was all so dull, and dark and drenched in rain the whole time.

Also, this time round, could the film actually feature what everybody loves about Godzilla films – a mighty monster smack down?

Dave Golder
Freelance Writer

Dave is a TV and film journalist who specializes in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He's written books about film posters and post-apocalypses, alongside writing for SFX Magazine for many years.