A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Japanese teaser poster. Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD.

Seven years after SHIN GODZILLA, the worst "despair" in history strikes.
From zero to minus, Godzilla strikes down Japan!
A 70th anniversary commemorative film by director Takashi Yamazaki!

Toho has provided SciFi Japan with the official press release and poster art for GODZILLA MINUS ONE (ゴジラ-1.0/ゴジラマイナスワン, Gojira Mainasu Wan), the upcoming film commemorating the 70th anniversary of Godzilla's birth. The movie will be released in Japan on November 3, 2023.

The worst despair in the series' history strikes Japan!

After the war, Japan has been reduced to zero.
Godzilla appears and plunges the country into a negative state.
The most desperate situation in the history of Japan.
Who?　And how?
Will Japan stand up to it?

 Since its first appearance in 1954, the monster "Godzilla" has continued to fascinate and shock not only Japan but the world. Last year, we announced the decision to produce the latest Godzilla movie as a major project ahead of the 70th anniversary of the birth of Godzilla in 2024!　

The 70th anniversary film, the 30th live-action Godzilla film produced in Japan, and the first Godzilla in "2023" will be released on November 3, 2023 (Friday, national holiday), "Godzilla Day! "

Takashi Yamazaki, who won 12 major awards at the 29th Japan Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director for ALWAYS -SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- (ALWAYS 三丁目の夕日, Ōruweizu: San-chōme no Yūhi, 2005) and 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture at the 38th Academy Awards for THE ETERNAL ZERO (永遠の0, Eien no Zero, 2013), will direct the latest Godzilla film!

He also directed the ALWAYS -SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- sequels, which surprised fans by introducing Godzilla at the beginning of the second film, and the award-winning “Godzilla the Ride: Giant Monsters Ultimate Battle” (ゴジラ・ザ・ライド大怪獣頂上決戦, Gojira za Raido Daikaijū Chōjō Kessen) attraction at Seibuen Yuenchi, which achieved an astounding 97% guest satisfaction rate. He will direct, write the screenplay, and create VFX for the film.

 With the world's attention focused on the anniversary of Godzilla, Toho is pleased to finally announce the birth of the newest Godzilla!

The setting of the film is a postwar Japan. Japan has been reduced to zero, and Godzilla appears to strike the country down to a negative (minus).

The teaser trailer shows the Godzilla in this film, which is being unveiled for the first time, looking wild and godlike. The words "From nothing (zero) to negative (minus)," foreshadows an unimaginable crisis. The 30-second trailer shows the scene of Japan being destroyed by Godzilla after the war, with no signs of recovery in sight. The Godzilla that strikes down Japan in this film is strong, scary and almost divine. The poster with the teaser visual and the special trailer will be displayed and screened in movie theaters across Japan from July 14.

The new Godzilla is finally on the move. Director Takashi Yamazaki says, "I think this is the culmination of all the films I have made so far. And I think it is a film that deserves to be "experienced" rather than "watched" in the theater. I hope you will experience the most terrifying Godzilla in the best possible environment."

North American teaser poster. Photo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD.

 NORTH AMERICAN RELEASE ON DECEMBER 1ST!

 In addition, the film will be released in North America as soon as possible!

The film will be released in North American cinemas on December 1, 2023 (Friday), approximately one month after its Japanese release. GODZILLA MINUS ONE will create a whirlwind of excitement on a global scale.

DIRECTOR/SCREENPLAY/VFX: TAKASHI YAMAZAKI

Born in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture in 1964. He was strongly influenced by his childhood encounters with STAR WARS and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND  and decided to pursue a career in special effects. After graduating from Asagaya College of Art and Design, he joined Shirogumi Inc. in 1986. He made his directorial debut in 2000 with JUVENILE (ジュブナイル, Jubunairu), and is a leading figure in the field of visual effects and VFX, making full use of advanced visuals in computer graphics. His ALWAYS -SUNSET ON THIRD STREET- (2005), a VFX depiction of a Showa-era town with heartwarming humanity, vitality, and atmosphere, became a hot topic of conversation, winning 12 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director at the 29th Academy Awards. His WWII drama THE ETERNAL ZERO (永遠の0, Eien no Zero, 2013) and computer animated feature STAND BY ME DORAEMON (STAND BY ME ドラえもん, Sutando Bai Mī Doraemon, 2014) won a combined nine awards at the 38th Japan Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Animated Film. He is counted as one of Japan's leading film directors.

In 2021 he returned to Godzilla with "Godzilla the Ride", the  world's first permanent Godzilla-themed large-scale ride attraction at the Seibuen Amusement Park.  This month sees the debut of Yamazaki's follow-up, "Ultraman the Ride: The Great Duel of the Century" (ウルトラマン・ザ・ライド　世紀の大決闘,  Urutoraman za Raido Seiki no Daikettō).  Yamazaki stated that "My childhood dreams are coming true one after another," by working on both Godzilla and Ultraman.

DIRECTOR TAKASHI YAMAZAKI FULL COMMENTS

Postwar Japan has lost everything. The film depicts an existence that gives unprecedented despair. The title GODZILLA MINUS ONE was created with this in mind. In order to depict this, the staff and I have worked together to create a setting where Godzilla looks as if "fear" itself is walking toward us, and where despair is piled on top of despair. I think this is the culmination of all the films I have made to date, and one that deserves to be "experienced" rather than "watched" in the theater. I hope you will experience the most terrifying Godzilla in the best possible environment.

GODZILLA -1.0/GODZILLA MINUS ONE

Director/Screenplay/VFX: Takashi Yamazaki
Production: Toho Co.
Distribution: Toho Co.
Production Production: TOHO STUDIO, ROBOT
Release Date: November 3, 2023 (Fri., holiday)
©2023 TOHO CO.,LTD.

Friday, November 3, 2023 in Toho theaters nationwide!

About Toho Co. Ltd.

Toho Company provides high-quality entertainment to a wide range of customers through its film production, distribution, and exhibition business, which is solidly supported by its real estate business including the Shinjuku Toho Building and Hibiya Chante, animation production, DVD software production and sales, and TOHO Cinemas' efforts to expand its network of multiplex cinemas. Among these, "Godzilla," which has been around since 1954, is Toho's flagship IP that has many fans around the world and has been loved for many years.