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Wednesday, 10th December 2014
In Japan Entertainment News,
Toho promises new Godzilla film
Godzilla fans have another film to look forward to, Japanese film studio Toho has promised, following the success of the latest Hollywood remake featuring the scaly beastie.
The company had promised that its previous take on the franchise - entitled Godzilla Final Wars - would be the last, but its latest statement indicated that advances in computer technology since 2004 had contributed to its decision.
Godzilla was last seen stomping through the streets and leaving destroyed cities in his wake in the US-produced revival directed by Gareth Edwards, which was released earlier this year (May 2014) to mixed reviews. It took more than $500m (£321m) worldwide, and a sequel is already in the works, to hit our screens by 2018.
Tohu is hoping to beat the US director to the next film, however, with a tentative release date of 2016 in place. The company still owns the rights to Godzilla and has launched the Godzilla Strategic Conference (Godzi-Con) - a committee aiming to reboot the Godzilla brand - headed by veteran producer Taichi Ueda.
"The time has come for Japan to make a film that will not lose to Hollywood," Ueda told reporters, according to Variety.
Despite the fact that the company is not expected to spend the $200m (£129m) that was spent on the US reboot, Ueda said Toho hopes to create a vision of the city-crushing monster that "will represent Japan and be loved around the world" in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Godzilla has been tearing up screens since 1954's widely-praised Japanese black-and-white original, directed by Ishiro Honda. The result of a nuclear mutation, this fire-breathing beast has found a unique place in the hearts of millions of film lovers across the world.
Related news stories:
Tokyo to get Godzilla-themed hotel (27th February 2015)
Godzilla gets music festival for 60th birthday (14th November 2014)
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Inside Japan US office
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