The studio has set the upcoming blockbuster for a 2012 release
Legendary Pictures announced today that they will develop and produce a new film based on Toho Company's famed Godzilla character. Through the terms of the agreement, Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights to produce a movie inspired by Toho's Godzilla, a franchise the Japanese company created and has nurtured for over fifty years.
Toho's Godzilla franchise boasts one of the most widely recognized film creatures worldwide, resulting in a series of books, television programs, video games and more than 25 films worldwide. Legendary intends to approach the film and its characters in the most authentic manner possible. The company will, in the near future, announce a filmmaker to helm the film for an intended 2012 release. The film will fall under the company's co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Toho will distribute the film in Japan.
"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."
"Godzilla is a signature Japanese character which we have nurtured over the years. It is a great honor to reach an agreement with Legendary Pictures, the parent to many a blockbuster film, and we are delighted in rebooting the character together to realize its much anticipated return by fans from all over the world," comments Hideyuki Takai, President of Toho Co., Ltd. "We are anxious to find out where Godzilla's new stomping will take us."
"Godzilla is emblematic of the kind of branded, event films for which Warner Bros. and our partners at Legendary are best known. We have enjoyed a great deal of success together to date and this newest opportunity represents yet another chance for us to collaborate on a property that is very clearly in their wheelhouse," said Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.
In addition to Legendary, producers on the new film will be Dan Lin, Roy Lee and Brian Rogers. Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira and Doug Davison will Executive Produce.
Toho's Godzilla franchise boasts one of the most widely recognized film creatures worldwide, resulting in a series of books, television programs, video games and more than 25 films worldwide. Legendary intends to approach the film and its characters in the most authentic manner possible. The company will, in the near future, announce a filmmaker to helm the film for an intended 2012 release. The film will fall under the company's co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Toho will distribute the film in Japan.
"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."
"Godzilla is a signature Japanese character which we have nurtured over the years. It is a great honor to reach an agreement with Legendary Pictures, the parent to many a blockbuster film, and we are delighted in rebooting the character together to realize its much anticipated return by fans from all over the world," comments Hideyuki Takai, President of Toho Co., Ltd. "We are anxious to find out where Godzilla's new stomping will take us."
"Godzilla is emblematic of the kind of branded, event films for which Warner Bros. and our partners at Legendary are best known. We have enjoyed a great deal of success together to date and this newest opportunity represents yet another chance for us to collaborate on a property that is very clearly in their wheelhouse," said Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.
In addition to Legendary, producers on the new film will be Dan Lin, Roy Lee and Brian Rogers. Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira and Doug Davison will Executive Produce.
Godzilla was released May 7th, 2004 and stars Akira Takarada, Momoko Kôchi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura, Fuyuki Murakami, Sachio Sakai, Toranosuke Ogawa, Ren Yamamoto. The film is directed by Ishirô Honda.
Comments (35)
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Monkeyiron
YAY A ANOTHER GODZILLA REMAKE.
2 years agoby @monkeyironFlag
Mwheeler1324
I can't wait! I have all the Godzilla movies that were done! Talking about the special effect(the ToHo remakes) 1's, the american Godzilla was Horriable!!!! Godzilla was not a lizard! So they will make it RIGHT this time!
2 years agoby @mwheeler1324Flag
The Movie Ghost
@(Insert Username Here): Yeah, I was pretty much the same way with that movie. Saw it when I was 5 or 6 with my Dad, became infatuated with the giant lizard (what 5-year-old boy wouldn't?). I've still got some love for Emmerich's Godzilla, still wished they would've made a movie sequel but, it tied into an animated Series, which was still pretty cool.
I can't wait to see what they do with 'Zilla, as long as they DON"T F*CK UP!!
Personally, make Godzilla more like Emmerich's, liked him better that way. Still love the Japanese version, just Emmerich's a smidge more.
2 years agoby @thejoker-16Flag
ejk1
Insert, I don't know if this is entirely accurate, but I recall a cartoon that came out shortly after the 1998 film that did follow the baby godzilla around. I think it was friendly to humans, but I'm not sure because I didn't watch it.
2 years agoby @ejk1Flag
Phantanos
This would be a Legendary task! The last time Warners handled Godzilla; they changed his name to Gigantis! Times have changed. Hopefully they will do a better job with the film; than the two idiots who made the Tristar abomination ! With this climate of rouge nations, aquiring nuclear power; the shadow of Godzilla will never pass from memory. The cast of supporting characters must balance with the dread of a nearly indestructible foe. Remember the original monster's manerisms were like Leviathan, from the book of Jobe!
This is no cheach lizard running from heliocopters!
It is mindless,murderous,and indifferent; like nuclear war!
2 years agoby @phantanosFlag
Vanboy
Insert, are you calling me Dick? Didn't insult your little movie that could. Or was that for someone else? I felt bad when those as**ole plane shot missles into him. I wanted him to live. But since you're being bitchy.....
2 years agoby @vanboyFlag
T.Clark
I enjoyed Emmerich's Godzilla, I never said it was a great movie. I first saw it when I was five, so excuse me. It's nothing compared to the Japanese version.
Dick.
2 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
Vanboy
I hope they do this like the Godzilla movies that we have come to love. A Godzilla that has Human gestures, and kicks ass. My favorite was always Godzilla VS The Smog Monster, a.k.a. Godzilla VS Hedorah. Very late 1960s style, even if it was released in 1971. Loved it and own it!!
Yeah, Insert. I hear ya. I always wished that Christine would finish unbending and leave and go to another city and get another nerdy kid obsessed with her, but alas.....it was not meant to be. Hollywood will probably do a remake of it and screw it up, just like they did with The Fog. THAT remake sucked beyond anything!
2 years agoby @vanboyFlag
T.Clark
I enjoyed Emmerich's Godzilla and still do...probably more for sentimental reasons because it's the first film I saw in a theater. During the first few years after it's release, even at a young age, I was anxious to hear about a sequel that followed that f*cking baby Godzilla left alive at the end. Somewhere down the road, I realized it would never happen and accepted that as just a shock-value ending.
This needs to be a remake of the original "Godzilla, King of the Monsters," though.
2 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
The Narrator: The Better Man
I wonder who they'll get to direct.
2 years agoby @narratorFlag
MovieWiz001
Nice. I love Roland's Godzilla and Toho's Godzilla. Yeah I'm a G-fan.
2 years agoby @moviewiz001Flag
Shadow Of The Day
Cool.
2 years agoby @asifFlag
lantimes
just don't get that f*ck wit, Emmerich to direct it again or i'll strat tearing up buildings and breath fire
2 years agoby @lantimesFlag
Cripple
I grew up watching the japanese godzilla movies. Please don't screw this up.
2 years agoby @crippleFlag
The Dark Knight
yes
2 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag
Moviedude21
Oooo! Godzilla. 3D.
2 years agoby @moviedude21Flag
Rufio
the coolest thing about the 90's incarnation was its crossover promo spots with the Taco Bell Chihuahua. the dog's dead now so they better make sure they have a great script/story and director!!!
2 years agoby @rufioFlag
ejk1
I was a huge fan of Godzilla when I was a kid. I remember taping the movies off TV. As a matter of fact, one of the memories of my childhood that I hold dearest is when I taped Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster on TBS' program Super Scary Saturday, hosted by Grandpa Munster(this was around 20 years ago). Hopefully, a new movie can wipe away the sh*tty taste that pitiful 1998 movie left in my mouth.
2 years agoby @ejk1Flag
HighCaliberINC
Legendary seems to do nothing but awesome movies...so I am pleased to see them being the ones that will handle this type of undertaking.
2 years agoby @highcaliberincFlag
Twisted Smile (The Untold Smile)
Very cool news.
2 years agoby @twistedsmileFlag
XxxHolic
I hope it's good. Like the old school Godzilla.
2 years agoby @xxxholicFlag
Emmytt
it better be done right not like the one in the 90's
2 years agoby @emmyttFlag
The Soylent Green Monkey
They better do this right. Or it's going to be a neck-snapping party.
and Jae, of course it's going to be in 3D. Anything for the money.
2 years agoby @soylentgreen2Flag
Randommovie
kool hope it dose great
2 years agoby @randommovieFlag
T.Clark
This makes me want to watch the original...I haven't seen it in so long. If I remember, it's about a reporter who comes to Japan. It wasn't so much about Godzilla himself, but the human characters and the effect this monster has on them. It wasn't until the sequels and he fought the "monster of the year" that they kinda expanded on Godzilla's "story."
Same basic storyline, but set in modern day would be good.
2 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
internetwin
epic
2 years agoby @internetwinFlag
clinton
HAHAAA!!!! i'm so thrilled!!
2 years agoby @clintonFlag
jae1169
I would hope that this is one of those "3D" IMAX movies but if it is not i will still see it anyway.
2 years agoby @jae1169Flag
Err
hmm.... not uh, you know, not to go against the flow or anything, but i'm not too excited about this idea.
2 years agoby @err2005Flag
The Narrator: The Better Man
Set it in Japan, with english and japanese and foreign stars, and make it on a scale of that of Cloverfield: personal. Thats my two cents.
2 years agoby @narratorFlag