Production is officially moving forward on the follow-up to Godzilla Minus One, with principal photography for the next entry in Toho’s kaiju franchise set to begin at the end of August. According to a casting notice published on a Japanese production website, Toho is actively recruiting volunteer extras for a new film currently operating under the working title Epic Monster Movie.
This announcement offers the clearest indication to date that a direct sequel to Godzilla Minus One is in the works, despite months of speculation and ambiguity from those involved in the project. The director, screenwriter, and visual effects supervisor for the film is once again Takashi Yamazaki, whose work on the previous installment garnered widespread acclaim, including an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects—the first time a Japanese film had ever received the honor.
Toho describes the upcoming production as a major cinematic event. The open call for volunteer extras emphasizes the film’s large scale, inviting participants to join a cast composed of top-tier Japanese actors. While no specific plot details have been shared, the project appears to maintain continuity with Godzilla Minus One, particularly given Yamazaki’s return and earlier comments expressing his interest in continuing the narrative established in the 2023 film.
Godzilla Minus One, released in Japan in November 2023 to coincide with the franchise’s 70th anniversary, marked a major resurgence for the long-running series. Set in postwar Japan, the film followed a traumatized former kamikaze pilot who confronts the devastating return of the iconic monster. With Ryunosuke Kamiki in the lead role and a strong supporting cast that included Minami Hamabe and Yuki Yamada, the film was praised for its emotional storytelling and visual ambition. Produced for a modest estimated budget of $10 to $15 million, the film exceeded expectations at the global box office with over $110 million in revenue and won more than 50 awards worldwide.
Talk of a sequel has circulated since early 2024, though the project’s status remained unclear. Yamazaki himself stated in several interviews that no formal discussions had occurred at the time, though he expressed a desire to revisit the characters and explore new narrative possibilities, including a deeper exploration of the consequences of Godzilla’s presence. He compared this lingering influence to the mythical curse in Princess Mononoke, suggesting that the next film might further examine Japan’s psychological and cultural scars in the aftermath of the monster’s destruction.
In more recent months, key milestones began to point toward active development. Yamazaki confirmed in February 2025 that scripting and storyboarding were underway and hinted that the upcoming film could surpass its predecessor in scale and cost. Though early reports stopped short of labeling it an official sequel, the announcement of the August shoot, combined with the involvement of Yamazaki and the production companies Toho and Robot Communications, strongly suggests continuity with the award-winning film.
Toho International president Koji Ueda recently stated that the company is eyeing a 2026 release window, although no specific date has been announced. For now, the project remains under the placeholder title Epic Monster Movie, a likely veil to preserve secrecy around the plot and the monster’s reappearance.
Whether the film will follow the same characters or introduce new ones is still unclear. Cast members such as Hamabe and Yamada have voiced interest in reprising their roles, with both making lighthearted remarks in interviews about potential story directions. While Toho continues to keep tight control over official details, the company’s recruitment of extras suggests that filming locations and sequences involving large crowd scenes are already in planning stages.
