After Godzilla Minus One snagged the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, Hollywood came knocking for director Takashi Yamazaki. But instead of jumping at big-budget American offers, he chose to dive back into the world of Godzilla with Godzilla Minus Zero. Now, with the sequel hitting North American theaters, Yamazaki is opening up about what's next for the iconic monster and his human counterparts.
In a recent interview, Yamazaki admitted he had a story and theme in mind for a second film, which was enough to postpone those Hollywood calls. But when asked about a potential third installment, he was candid: "I would say it's about fifty-fifty at this point." He expressed a sentimental attachment to the franchise, noting he'd be a bit sad if Minus Zero were his last Godzilla outing. Still, his plate is full with Grandgear, an English-language mecha movie produced by J.J. Abrams, plus other projects lined up.
What Could a Third Godzilla Movie Explore?
Godzilla Minus Zero picks up in 1949, two years after the events of the first film, and throws the Shikishima family into the path of King Ghidorah. For Yamazaki, the challenge was keeping the human drama front and center even with two colossal monsters on screen. The Shikishimas have already rebuilt their lives once, and Ghidorah's arrival forces them to confront how much more they can lose. Yamazaki also used flashbacks to expand the universe, hinting that a third movie could explore untold horrors from the original attack.
The director keeps circling back to the Shikishimas' fate. He's described them as having crossed into the realm of "raging gods," and stories about mortals who tangle with deities rarely end well. He'd like to spare them that, but he's also content leaving Minus Zero's ending open to interpretation. After two films of survival, maybe they deserve some peace—or maybe there's a story in how they cope with it.
Beyond the family, Minus Zero sets up a geopolitical thread that could fuel another chapter. Professor Murakami (Min Tanaka) destroys his resonance wave device to keep it from falling into American hands, but they kidnap him anyway. It's a tense cliffhanger that suggests the Americans won't stop hunting for a Godzilla weapon, and Murakami's fate is anything but certain.
Yamazaki's love for the franchise is evident, and fans are already speculating about what a third film might bring. For now, they can catch Godzilla Minus Zero in North American theaters starting Friday, November 6. And if you're hungry for more kaiju action, check out our look at the upcoming remaster or the massive new LEGO set.
