Godzilla Minus Zero (Japanese: ゴジラ-0.0（マイナスゼロ）, Hepburn: Gojira Mainasu Zero) is an upcoming Japanese kaiju film written, directed, and with visual effects by Takashi Yamazaki. A sequel to Godzilla Minus One (2023), it is the 39th film in the Godzilla franchise, the 34th film thereof produced by Toho, and the sixth installment in the franchise's Reiwa era. The film stars Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Yuki Yamada, Kuranosuke Sasaki, and Sakura Ando reprising their roles from Minus One, with Min Tanaka playing a new character.
Following the international success of Godzilla Minus One, Toho announced in November 2024 that another Yamazaki-helmed Godzilla film had been greenlit. By February 2025, Yamazaki had begun screenwriting and storyboarding the follow-up. In April 2025, Toho International's president, Kōji Ueda, clarified that the new film would be a sequel, planned for a 2026 release. Principal photography commenced in August 2025 and wrapped by December. It became the first Japanese production filmed for IMAX. The film's title was announced in November 2025. Shirogumi is handling the visual effects.
Godzilla Minus Zero will have its world premiere at the 2026 New York Film Festival on September 26, and is scheduled to be released theatrically in Japan by Toho on November 3.
Contents
Premise
"Godzilla Minus Zero picks up in 1949, two years after the tumultuous events of Godzilla Minus One, and continues the story of the Shikishima family as they face an all-new calamity."
Cast
Ryunosuke Kamiki as Kōichi Shikishima, a former kamikaze pilot
Minami Hamabe as Noriko Shikishima (né Ōishi), Kōichi's wife
Min Tanaka as Kanji Murakami, a biologist carrying deep psychological scars from the war
Hidetaka Yoshioka as Kenji Noda, the director of the Large-Scale Disaster Response Bureau
Yuki Yamada as Shirō Mizushima, a young crewman aboard the Shinsei Maru
Kuranosuke Sasaki as Seiji Akitsu, captain of the Shinsei Maru
Sakura Ando as Sumiko Ōta, Kōichi's neighbor and head of Kiyosumi Garden orphanage
Miou Tanaka as Tatsuo Hotta, former captain of the destroyer Yukikaze
Sae Nagatani as Akiko, Noriko and Kōichi's adopted daughter
Production
Development
Discussions regarding a potential sequel to Godzilla Minus One began shortly before the film's November 2023 release. According to director Takashi Yamazaki, Toho executives had already viewed the film and expressed interest in a follow-up. Throughout the film's theatrical run, Yamazaki repeatedly told interviewers that no discussions of a sequel had taken place, but shared ideas he had for one. In 2026, he admitted that his earlier claims of "no talks" were untrue, and that he had intentionally "planted the seed" for a continuation by hinting at future story directions.
Following the critical and commercial success of Godzilla Minus One—which became one of the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects among its many accolades—Yamazaki was confirmed on November 1, 2024, to helm another Godzilla film. The announcement was first made during the film's Japanese television broadcast on Nippon Television's Friday Road Show. At that time, Toho did not disclose if it would be a direct sequel to Godzilla Minus One or a standalone film. At the 23rd Visual Effects Society Awards on February 11, 2025, Yamazaki revealed scripting and storyboarding of his follow-up was ongoing and expected a budget higher than that of Godzilla Minus One's, which cost less than US$15 million.
Pre-production
In June 2025, the Agency for Cultural Affairs–commissioned "Film Staff Development Project" disclosed that filming for Yamazaki's next movie would take place from early August to December 2025, and they were seeking film students to recruit. On July 17, Bloomberg News reported that Toho International's president, Kōji Ueda, clarified that the new Godzilla film would be a sequel and a 2026 release was currently planned. On July 27, the site yamazakimovie-extra.jp was launched to find volunteer extras for the film from August to September. It recycled the Blockbuster Monster Movie (temp) (Japanese: 超大作怪獣映画(仮)) placeholder used for Minus One during pre-production and confirmed Toho would be financing with Robot Communications, featuring an all-star Japanese cast.
Filming
Principal photography took place with extras on location in Ibaraki Prefecture from August 30 to September 14, 2025. The Hollywood Reporter claimed additional shooting took place in New Zealand and Norway. However, according to an official press release, the film was shot entirely in Japan. Filming was expected to wrap in late December. It became the first Japanese production filmed for IMAX.
Extra recruitment reports also state that due to the film's historical drama setting, there would be restrictions on the extras' costume sizes, hairstyles, and hair colors (with hair dyeing being prohibited) for those participating as extras. A scene featuring Japanese maintenance soldiers was shot at a temple in Maizuru on November 3, which was Godzilla Day in Japan. Filming occurred around Seijōgakuen-mae Station on November 25, and in Inashiki District, Ibaraki on December 15.
At the opening ceremony of Godzilla Fest 2025, held on November 3, 2025, at the Tokyo Dome City Hall, Toho unveiled the official title of Yamazaki's next Godzilla feature as Godzilla Minus Zero. A teaser logo, personally illustrated by Yamazaki, was shown. Yamazaki said via a pre-recorded message that he was unable to attend the festival since he is currently filming Minus Zero. It was also announced that Shirogumi will handle VFX; and production is shared between Toho Studios and Robot Communications. Industry sources told The Hollywood Reporter the same day that "the new film is being positioned not just as a sequel but as a statement piece". Plot details, cast confirmations, and an exact premiere date remain undisclosed.
On December 10, Yamazaki finished that day's filming at 5:00 p.m. and then made a surprise appearance at a Tokyo event for James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash. During their onstage conversation, Cameron expressed enthusiasm for Godzilla Minus Zero and offered to direct the film's second unit if it fell behind schedule.
Release
Marketing and promotion
On March 9, 2026, it was announced that footage from the film would be shown at CinemaCon at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 14, with Yamazaki presenting. The teaser trailer released later that same day. Behind the scenes footage was also shown at CinemaCon. An unidentified actor provided voiceover as an American military member in the teaser. A second teaser premiered on July 9.
On August 16, 2026, Godzilla Minus Zero is scheduled to collaborate with the Ban'ei Kinen at Obihiro Racecourse. The event will feature a Godzilla panel exhibition, a Godzilla statue, an appearance by the film's producer Kazuaki Kishida, and collaboration merchandise, including a limited-edition T-shirt, will be offered as a prize. In July, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toho announced "Godzilla Minus Zero Night" at Dodger Stadium. It is set to take place on September 24, during a game against the San Diego Padres. The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive an exclusive Godzilla bobblehead, and the evening featured a large-scale drone show with Godzilla-themed visuals.
Theatrical
Godzilla Minus Zero will premiere at the 2026 New York Film Festival on September 26, 2026, and is also set to be the Centerpiece screening at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival in October. Thereafter, it is scheduled to be released in Japan on November 3, 2026, and North America on November 6, 2026, also in IMAX. This timing adheres to the longstanding Toho–Legendary Pictures agreement that prohibits competing Godzilla films from releasing in the same calendar year, as previously seen with Godzilla Minus One (2023) and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024). Legendary's next Monsterverse entry, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, is set for 2027. On January 9, 2026, the film was announced to be distributed by Toho's subsidiary GKIDS in North American theatres on November 6, 2026, three days after its Japanese release date on November 3, 2026.