Having made one of the finest directorial debuts in recent years with Monsters, Gareth Edwards has returned behind the camera for his sophomore feature, Godzilla.
Edwards is switching gears completely, moving from an incredibly low-budget independent film to one of the biggest blockbusters in development, and we can’t wait to see what he brings to the table. Smart money says this is going to be epic.
Production has now officially begun out in Vancouver. And with the official press release also comes the announcement that Ken Watanabe (Inception, Batman Begins) has joined the cast.
Watanabe is perhaps one of the best known Japanese actors beyond Japan’s shores, earning himself an Oscar nomination opposite Tom Cruise in Edward Zwick’s The Last Samurai. We had been hoping that Watanabe would be returning to the big screen in the now-defunct Akira adaptation, but getting to see him on board for Godzilla instead is an awesome change.
Watanabe is joining Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Juliette Binoche, David Strathairn, and Bryan Cranston on the cast, which sounds like a terrific ensemble.
Edwards is directing from a script penned by Max Borenstein, Frank Darabont, and Dave Callaham. Interestingly, Iron Man 3’s Drew Pearce isn’t credited in the release below, which suggests Warner Bros. and Legendary decided to take things in a different direction following his script re-write, after Darabont came on board.
Godzilla has already been set to be released on 16th May, 2014, and is likely to be released in 3D when it hits. We have a lot of love for Edwards’ debut film, Monsters, and are really interested to see him take the helm for Godzilla. Keep your fingers crossed for a smooth production. This promises to be one of the best movies of 2014.
BURBANK, CA, March 18, 2013 – Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today the final principal cast for the upcoming tent pole “Godzilla.” Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, and Juliette Binoche are starring in the film, with David Strathairn and Bryan Cranston.
The companies also announced that principal photography began today on location in Vancouver
Gareth Edwards is directing the film from a screenplay by Max Borenstein, Frank Darabont and Dave Callaham. Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni are producing with Mary Parent and Brian Rogers. Alex Garcia and Patricia Whitcher are serving as executive producers alongside Yoshimitsu Banno and Kenji Okuhira.
A presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, “Godzilla” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, except in Japan, where it will be distributed by Toho Co., Ltd. Legendary Pictures is a division of Legendary Entertainment.
Slated to open on May 16, 2014, the film is expected to be presented in 3D.
