Godzilla Minus Zero

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Godzilla Minus Zero
Official logo
Directed byTakashi Yamazaki
Written byTakashi Yamazaki
Production
companies
Distributed byToho
Release date
  • 2026 (2026)
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 by Takashi Yamazaki. The sequel to Godzilla Minus One (2023), it is the 39th film in the Godzilla franchise, the 34th film produced 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 is set to wrap in December. The film's title was announced in November 2025. Shirogumi will handle the visual effects.

Godzilla Minus Zero is set to be released worldwide in late 2026.

Production

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Development and pre-production

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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 [ja].[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]

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. The site also stated the film will feature an all-star Japanese cast.[8]

Filming

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Principal photography took place with extras on location in Ibaraki Prefecture from August 30 to September 14.[8] It is expected to wrap in late December;[6] filming is also set to take place in New Zealand and Norway, according to The Hollywood Reporter.[9] 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. Filming will occur around Seijōgakuen-mae Station on November 25.[10]

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.[11] It was also announced that Shirogumi will handle VFX; and production is shared between Toho Studios and Robot Communications.[12] 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][11]

Release

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Godzilla Minus Zero is scheduled for release worldwide in late 2026.[7][9][13]

Notes

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  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

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  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. ^ a b Kim, Sohee (17 July 2025). "Godzilla Conquered Japan. Now Its Owner Plots a Global Takeover". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 17 July 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  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 f Brzeski, Patrick (2025-11-03). "Japan's Toho Studios Reveals Title for Next Godzilla Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ a b "Godzilla Minus Zero Title Reveal Ignites Fans at Godzilla Fest 2025". Godzilla.com. Toho International. November 3, 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  12. ^ "Godzilla Minus Zero - News Roundup". Toho Kingdom. 2025-11-03. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  13. ^ "Monsters, Mayhem, and More: Your Godzilla Minus One Watch List on Netflix". Netflix. November 3, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
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