Rumors that Legendary Pictures were in the process of making a new, American, "Godzilla" film first surfaced last August, and now they have been officially confirmed.
Yes, my friends, the studio has just announced that they have struck a deal with the famed Toho studios in Japan to produce a brand-new "Godzilla" movie, which will be released through Warner Bros in 2012.
According to the deal, Warner Bros will co-produce the film, and pony up some of the cash for it, while Toho will release the film in Japan.
There isn't a director yet, but the studio has announced that Dan Lin, Roy Lee Brian Rogers, Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira and Doug Davison will all serve as producers.
Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary Pictures, commented, "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. 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."
Sources close to the deal note that it will be similar in scope to other Warner/Legendary films, co-productions, such as "The Dark Knight" and "300".
So, that is it. A new American "Godzilla" movie, with "Godzilla" in it, not "GINO"!
We can only hope that Tull and his team at Warner/Legendary keep true to their word and produce a "Godzilla" film that hearkens back to the classic films produced by Toho that we all grew up with.
I think that they know, that if they don't, we will burn the studio down.........just kidding......okay, no we will.
Update: Legendary's Godzilla: See? I Told You So! by Armand Vaquer
See? I told you so! (Thanks to Rush Limbaugh for that!) I knew that something was up when I spoke to Toho-L.A. General Manager Yukio Kotaki! You may recall that when I questioned Mr. Kotaki about the rumor of the Legendary Pictures project, he couldn't say but gave a noticable giggle. Legendary Pictures announced today that they will be co-producing and co-financing with Warner Brothers a new Godzilla movie that will be re-imagining the Japanese monster. It will not be connected to the Sony/TriStar feature with Matthew Broderick. Thank God!
This is great news, provided the movie turns out to be faithful to the spirit of Japan's Godzilla rather than the abomination that TriStar's 1998 Godzilla turned out to be. That movie is commonly known as GINO (Godzilla In Name Only).
Update: Here is a copy of the press release (Heads up from Rob Smith)
"LEGENDARY PICTURES TO DEVELOP AND PRODUCE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE BASED ON TOHO COMPANY?S ICONIC MONSTER, GODZILLA
Burbank, CA ? March 29, 2010 ? Legendary Pictures announced today that they will develop and produce a new film based on Toho Company?s famed GODZILLA character. Through the terms of the agreement, Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights to produce a movie inspired by Toho?s Godzilla, a franchise the Japanese company created and has nurtured for over fifty years.
Toho?s GODZILLA franchise boasts one of the most widely recognized film creatures worldwide, resulting in a series of books, television programs, video games and more than 25 films worldwide. Legendary intends to approach the film and its characters in the most authentic manner possible. The company will, in the near future, announce a filmmaker to helm the film for an intended 2012 release. The film will fall under the company?s co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Toho will distribute the film in Japan."
"Godzilla" is coming back -- this time, with Legendary Pictures taking the lead, co-producing and co-financing with Warner Bros. for release in 2012.
Legendary announced Monday it had obtained rights to the iconic monster character from Japan's Toho Co., which has overseen more than 25 "Godzilla" films. Toho will release the pic in Japan.
Legendary said it's planning to announce a director shortly.
In addition to Legendary, producers on the new film will be Dan Lin, Roy Lee and Brian Rogers. Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira and Doug Davison will exec produce.
"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."
Legendary noted the film will fall under its co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. Legendary's productions with Warners have included "The Dark Knight," "300" and "The Hangover."