Godzilla has faced countless opponents over 71 years. The director of the best film in the series has a favorite among the monsters that he would love to bring back.
In 2023, a new title in the series called Godzilla Minus One was released from Japan, which impressed critics and fans alike. Within the 71-year history of the series, it is the highest-rated installment on Rotten Tomatoes (we exclude Godzilla vs. Destoroyah, as the score is based on only 6 reviews).
It has now also been confirmed that the film, which even won an Oscar for its visual effects, will be continued in 2026 with Godzilla Minus Zero. Much is not known about the upcoming film, but as FandomWire reports, director Takashi Yamazaki has previously spoken about one of his favorite monsters that would perfectly fit the tone of the first film.
A special rival of Godzilla
Which monster was Yamazaki talking about? At the New York Comic Con 2024, the director was asked various questions during a panel. Among other things, he was asked which Godzilla film he would most like to see a remake of. His answer was quite unusual:
Godzilla vs. Hedorah. I think that Hedorah was a very innovative kaiju for its time, and when I think about what visual expression we have today with technology and how advanced it has become – I imagine how he would move, and I think that would be a really cool remake.
Takashi Yamazaki (via kaijuunited.com)
The film (which was called Frankenstein’s Monster vs. the Devil’s Monsters
here) by director Yoshimitsu Banno was released in 1971, and Hedorah is among the lesser-known kaijus in the universe compared to icons like King Ghidorah, Gigan, Rodan, or Mothra. You can see what Hedorah looks like here:
Still relevant after 54 years
What kind of monster is Hedorah? Hedorah comes from outer space and is a giant slime monster. The name Hedorah comes from the Japanese word hedoro
and means something like mud or slime. Thanks to a comet, it lands on Earth and has fed on pollution.
Throughout the film, Godzilla fought multiple times against the monster, which became stronger due to pollution, but also caused more damage with its toxic body. Hedorah’s greatest weakness is electricity, which can dry out its liquid body.
What does MyMMO editor and Godzilla fan Niko say about Hedorah as a potential antagonist? Godzilla was a reflection of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1954, and many of its monsters tried to represent important themes. Hedorah is a commentary on pollution, which has become significantly more relevant since 1971.
One can understand Godzilla Minus One as a remake of the first film, which is why a new version of Hedorah would also work. Looking at how Minus One ends, such a monster would fit well amidst the great destruction.
However, since a mysterious substance from Godzilla’s cells is shown at the end of the film, Biollante could also be a fitting monster. In the film Godzilla vs. Biollante, a plant monster is created from the cells of the giant lizard.
When can we expect Godzilla Minus Zero? So far, only a logo has been presented for the film. According to Polygon, a release is planned for late 2026, but we must wait for more information. Godzilla x Kong: Supernova will also continue in the US universe in 2027.
Godzilla is not only a well-known but also a fascinating movie monster that is known even by people who have never seen a film featuring the giant lizard. However, in our world, one probably does not need to fear such a monster: Astrophysicist explains why Godzilla could never exist in the real world: “He would just be a lump”
