Takashi Yamazaki, the director of the Oscar-winning film “Godzilla Minus One,” shared updates about the upcoming sequel at the Visual Effects Society awards on February 11. Yamazaki accepted the Society’s Visionary Award and discussed the future of the franchise and the role of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. “Godzilla Minus One” made history in 2024 by winning the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, the first time a Godzilla film earned an Academy Award.
Despite its modest budget of under $15 million, the film was a major financial success, grossing $105 million worldwide. Yamazaki confirmed that the sequel is expected to have a higher budget, allowing for more creative freedom and advanced visual effects. Yamazaki also addressed the ongoing conversation about AI in cinema.
“It’s a very capable assistant or tool, as it stands right now, but it is not at the point where it can kind of take center stage and generate what humans can,” he said via a translator.
Yamazaki teases Godzilla Minus One sequel
“Right now, it’s not in any of our pipelines because of that reason, but the speed at which AI evolves is just so immense that where it goes from here remains to be seen.”
As for his craft, Yamazaki remains committed to traditional filmmaking techniques.
“Until recently, I’ve been still shooting on film and I like to use miniatures,” he explained. “So I know that someday we’re going to have to embrace and kind of work with AI. I’m probably going to be one of the later ones because I do like working with older technology and techniques.”
The decision to continue the “Godzilla Minus One” universe is unsurprising given the film’s critical and commercial success.
Boasting a 99% score from critics and an almost perfect 98% score from the audience, the film’s popularity is evident. “Godzilla Minus One” is currently available for streaming on Netflix. With the sequel in development and the enduring popularity of Godzilla, fans can look forward to more thrilling adventures featuring the iconic monster.
Yamazaki is currently working on the screenplay and storyboards for the new film, and specific details about the plot remain under wraps.
April Isaacs is a news contributor for DevX.com She is long-term, self-proclaimed nerd. She loves all things tech and computers and still has her first Dreamcast system. It is lovingly named Joni, after Joni Mitchell.
