Godzilla stomping back to theaters via Legendary

By Ace Fernandez

Well, well, well ... look who's getting back in fighting shape.

Everyone's favorite gigantic, havoc-wreaking lizard, Godzilla, is on his way back to the big screen via Legendary Pictures, which has acquired the rights to develop and produce a new feature based on the iconic Toho Co. character. Warner Bros. will co-produce, co-finance and distribute through its deal with Legendary, and Toho will roll out the film in Japan.

Dan Lin, Roy Lee and Brian Rogers are also producing; Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira and Doug Davison will be executive producers on the project.

The last major Godzilla outing, an American, New York-set version from Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, grossed $376 million worldwide in 1998 despite fielding equally major criticism. Toho quickly produced "Godzilla 2000," in which the big beast took on an evil UFO, the following year.

But the Godzilla franchise juggernaut has survived decades of permutations (he first appeared in 1954), dozens of films, books, video games and merchandising tie-ins and seems perpetually ready to rear up again for new audiences.

The new film is shooting for a 2012 release.

"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."

Added Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, "Godzilla is emblematic of the kind of branded, event films for which Warner Bros. and our partners at Legendary are best known."

The two companies have partnered on such global properties as "Batman Begins," "The Dark Knight," "Superman Returns" and "The Hangover," which have grossed more than $2 billion worldwide. Together, they have a remake of "Clash of the Titans" stomping into theaters Friday.

Comments

[Wo Fat]

some things should just be left alone...

[megan]

I look forward to this, Godzilla deserve's a second shot in theatre's.

[JAP HATER #1]

GAHZILLLA HE CAME FOR THE JAPS!!!

[ju]

This could be really good or really bad (for devoted fans). People who never cared about Godzilla will like it as long as there's action, which there will be.

[Sammy Taters]

As long as it is a new story with good monsters I'll be happy! Godzilla 2000 was awesome! The (1998) broderick film was terrible of course. We need more like Mechagodzilla Tokyo SOS and Godzilla 2000. Maybe they should bring back Biollante!!!

[HenryJ]

I grew up watching Godzilla. Probably the best recent Godzilla movie, in my opinion, is Godzilla 1985. The American Godzilla movie sucked beyond belief, and the more recent Toho releases, such as Godzilla 2000 wasn't all that great either. Bad acting coupled with a bad story doesn't make for a good movie. Hopefully Legendary Pictures does it right and makes full use of the special effects that we have today. And one more thing, no Minya riding around with the local villagers. He even put on a seatbelt! That was bad, even for a cheesy Godzilla movie.

[Forbious Fod]

After the complete disappointment with the way the Godzilla 1998 movie trashed 44 years of character development, both good and bad, and decided to make a remake of Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, I would love to see what someone who is an actual Godzilla fan can do with the franchise, ala Peter Jackson's Kong.

[r4i sdhc]

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 shitty taste that pitiful 1998 movie left in my mouth.

[David Nunez]

I would love to see a new Godzilla movie as long as Godzilla looks like Godzilla and not some giant mutated Igunana. Thank God the real Godzilla killed off that American Fakezilla in the 2004 movie Godzilla Final Wars. I really hope Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures do a good job with Godzilla. I think it would be very wise if Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures went to G-Fest the Godzilla convention held each year in Chicago next july to talk to the most diehard Godzilla fans in the country to see what they think.

[Stimul8d]

I've been wrong before but I'm gonna put my trust in Legendary pictures here. I genuinely don't think they're gonna make a hash of this after the shitstorm that was Zilla '98.

The real question is whether or not Godzilla will be alone in this or another monster makes an appearance. Anyone for Mothra?

[Randyy]

No doubt there will go all dark and depressive with it because that's the 'thing' atm, I think i would be happier with a crazy satire Godzilla over a dark knight Godzilla. But hell, as long as they get some good actors and a good director behind it it might turn out watchable.

[Shane]

i really hope that they try to follow at least a little of the original series and not just use the name and general description.

saw the first so i will see the second and hope that it doesn't have bad storyline. one more of those and toei company might all come over here and B**** slap some people.

[bariatric surgery]

No new monster film? Have to do another Godzilla film, really? We can't just translate the Japanese films? Yeah, let's stick that. I'm serious, Hollywood's ideas are becoming more and more unoriginal.

[flash drive]

I taped Ghidrah the Three-Headed Monster on TBS' program Super Scary Saturday, hosted by Grandpa Munster(this was around 20 years ago).

[Andrew]

I can't wait, a look similar to the American Godzilla or a mixture of the old and new, all CG and in fighting form but utilizing the powers of the original and a good story would be an amazing film.

[mrmischief]

oh man i am so excited about this.. please make him look like himself..not a t rex/raptor.. give him his fins on his back that light up when he gets pissed and gets ready to bbq soemthing!!!! tokyo sos was great...im deff 3-d this one in imax!

[Michael Smith]

I wish people would stop saying the 1998 movie was Godzilla. Yeah, it was titled Godzilla, but that wasn't Godzilla. It should've been called Giant Iguana. I really hope they learn from the 1998 mistake and keep Godzilla....well like Godzilla.

[ANTHONY TROY]

WHEN WILL SOMEONE RE-MAKE THE CLASSIC(KING KONG-vs-GODZILLA,NOW THAT WOULD BE A HIT.

[enrolled agent test prep]

@ANTHONY TROY

Yep, a must-watch classic. And yeah, it did not have any remakes, did it? What a shame... ^^