The 31st installment in the "Godzilla" series, "Godzilla-0.0" (directed by Takashi Yamazaki, opening November 3rd), will take place two years after the fierce battle in "Godzilla Minus One" (2023), and it has been revealed that lead actors Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe will reprise their roles from the previous film. The first teaser trailer has also been released.
Director Yamazaki appeared at "CinemaCon 2026," held in Las Vegas, USA on April 14th local time (April 15th Japan time), and revealed the latest information about "Godzilla-0.0." CinemaCon is a film convention where major Hollywood studios introduce their most anticipated works of the year to film industry professionals from around the world, and this was the first time that a live-action Japanese film was presented on a project-by-project basis.
"Godzilla-0.0" is set in post-war Japan in 1949, during the reconstruction period. It depicts a completely new story of disaster that takes place two years after the Godzilla attack in "Godzilla Minus One". It was also announced that Ryunosuke Kamiki will reprise his role as Koichi Shikishima, the protagonist who confronted Godzilla, who plunged Japan into the depths of despair in the previous film, and Minami Hamabe will reprise her role as Noriko, who miraculously survived the Godzilla attack.
Regarding his appearance in the latest film, Kamiki commented, "I am incredibly happy to be able to participate in a film set two years after ' Godzilla Minus One,' which is one of the most important works in my life. I am also proud to have been able to work with director Takashi Yamazaki and the team again. The pressure of participating in a Godzilla film that is loved by so many people is the same as with the previous film, but I did my best to make sure that everyone who watches it, and everyone who loves Godzilla, will enjoy it."
Hamabe expressed her gratitude, saying, "Following the previous film, I am grateful to be able to exist in the world of ' Godzilla Minus One' as Noriko." She continued, "My heart is already racing with excitement, and I can't wait to share this shock with everyone and see it in theaters. This film will be released simultaneously in Japan and the US, so I am very happy that we can share this shock not only with people in Japan but also with people all over the world. I hope that this film will be enjoyed and loved by many people." Both of them concluded their comments by saying that they are looking forward to meeting fans on November 3rd, "Godzilla Day," the release date.
Director Yamazaki commented, "' Godzilla Minus One' was loved by so many viewers and received many awards, and it has become a very important work to me. However, when it came to making the new film, those things turned out to be a huge obstacle. I never imagined that such a fulfilling and happy time as a director would become my enemy... But we must move forward. Just like the Shikishima family who overcome any difficulty." He added, "This time, the entire staff is working hard to make something that truly deserves to be called 'The world is waiting,' and a meaningful work that should be made especially in this era. Please look forward to it with the highest expectations."
Furthermore, the first teaser video, which uses footage from the main film for the first time, has also been released. It shows a number of shocking scenes, such as Shikishima (Kamiki) getting on a plane again and Noriko (Hamabe) shedding tears with a pained expression, and Godzilla also makes an appearance in a certain location. It was also revealed on the CinemaCon 2026 stage that "Godzilla-0.0" is the first Japanese film to be produced to meet the "Filmed For IMAX" standard.
The release date, November 3rd, is recognized as "Godzilla Day" because the first film was released on the same day in 1954. Director Yamazaki, who worked on the previous film "Godzilla Minus One," is in charge of directing, screenwriting, and VFX for this film. It will also be released in North America three days later, on November 6th. This simultaneous release in Japan and the US is a first in the history of the Japanese-produced Godzilla series.
"Godzilla Minus One," the 30th live-action Godzilla film produced in Japan, was released on "Godzilla Day" in 2023 and grossed over 7.65 billion yen at the box office. It won over 50 awards at domestic and international film festivals, including the first-ever Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards, creating a "Godzilla" phenomenon around the world.
