Toho’s Godzilla 2016 lands directors, will features largest Godzilla ever

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Toho is readying a new GODZILLA film and has tapped Japanese filmmakers Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi for the 2016 release, according to Screen Daily.

Toho has revealed that the story will take place in Japan along with Godzilla’s footprint from the film (pictured below). Toho also revealed that this film would feature the “largest Godzilla” ever and would be destroying cities all over Japan. Principal photography is scheduled to begin this autumn ahead of a planned summer 2016 release.

Anno, an anime veteran known for his work on the hit "Evangelion" series, will also write the script. Higuchi, director of JAPAN SINKS, THE FLOATING CASTLE and the upcoming ATTACK ON TITAN, will oversee the VFX.

Toho has produced 28 GOJIRA/GODZILLA films since the character was created in 1954, the last of which was GODZILLA: FINAL WARS, which marked the 50th anniversary of the Big G in 2004.

A statement from Toho’s production team said:

“Ever since Hollywood announced that Godzilla was to be resurrected, the expectation for another Japanese Godzilla grew.

“And if we were to newly produce, we looked into Japanese creators who were the most knowledgeable and who had the most passion for Godzilla.

“Naturally we quickly came to a consensus that Anno and Higuchi were the perfect fit for the Japanese Godzilla’s return in 12 years."