Godzilla Minus Zero

Development

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.[8] At that time, Toho did not disclose if it would be a direct sequel to Godzilla Minus One or a standalone film.[9] 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.[10]

Pre-production

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.[11] 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.[12] 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) (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, featuring an all-star Japanese cast.[13]

The official website also initially contained metadata in its source code identifying the project as a Godzilla film and stating that Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe would return.[14][15][16][17] By July 30, this text had been removed[18] shortly after it was discovered and shared by a Twitter user.[15][16][17] Kamiki and Hamabe were later confirmed to appear in the film in April 2026.[6]

Filming

Principal photography took place with extras on location in Ibaraki Prefecture from August 30 to September 14, 2025.[13] Additional shooting is set to take place in New Zealand and Norway, according to The Hollywood Reporter.[19] Filming was expected to wrap in late December.[11] It became the first Japanese production filmed for IMAX. The film reportedly had an over US$15 million budget.

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. A scene featuring Japanese maintenance soldiers was shot at a temple in Maizuru on November 3, which was Godzilla Day in Japan.[20] Filming occurred around Seijōgakuen-mae Station on November 25,[21] and in Inashiki District, Ibaraki on December 15.[22]

At the opening ceremony of Godzilla Fest 2025, held on November 3, 2025, at the Tokyo Dome City Hall, Toho unveiled the official title of Yamazaki's next Godzilla feature as Godzilla Minus Zero.[19] A teaser logo, personally illustrated by Yamazaki, was shown.[19] Yamazaki said via a pre-recorded message that he was unable to attend the festival since he is currently filming Minus Zero.[23] It was also announced that Shirogumi will handle VFX; and production is shared between Toho Studios and Robot Communications.[24] 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".[19] Plot details, cast confirmations, and an exact premiere date remain undisclosed.[19][23]

On December 10, Yamazaki finished that day's filming at 5:00 p.m. and then made a surprise appearance at a Tokyo event for James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash. During their onstage conversation, Cameron expressed enthusiasm for Godzilla Minus Zero and offered to direct the film's second unit if it fell behind schedule. Yamazaki responded with laughter, saying that Cameron's scenes would be so impressive that he himself would be left with no directing work to do.[25]

Marketing and promotion

On March 9, 2026, it was announced that footage from the film would be shown at CinemaCon at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 14, with Yamazaki presenting.[30] The teaser trailer released later that same day. Behind the scenes footage was also shown at CinemaCon.[31] An unidentified American actor provided voiceover as an American military member in the teaser.[31]