5 Monsters We Want To See In The GODZILLA MINUS ONE Sequel (2024)

If the idea is to go bigger equals better with the Minus One sequel, then Destroyah feels like a slam dunk option for a new monster to go toe-to-toe with this latest version of Godzilla. The monster in question made his one and only appearance in 1995’s Godzilla vs. Destroyah, which was the final film of the Heisei era.

Director Takao Okawara sent this era off with a bang, delivering one of the most visually impressive, hulking kaiju to ever grace the silver screen. Destroyah straight-up looks mean, with those giant wings, that horn and that distinctive chest.

More than that, Destroyah traces his roots to the original 1954 Godzilla, as he was created in Tokyo Bay, resulting from prehistoric microscopic marine creatures mutating after the Oxygen Destroyer went off. Again, this is a monster that could exist in some form based on what has already happened in this universe.

It would double down on the idea that mankind’s own horrors have created something more terrifying than anyone could have imagined, with the people of Earth having to reckon with the consequences of destructive action. Plus, Destroyah just looks cool as hell. Nearly 30 years after he first appeared on screen, it’s high time he made a comeback.

1971’s Godzilla vs. Hedorah is perhaps the prime example of a movie being ahead of its time. Aside from the all-over-the-place tone and experiment sequences, the message of a monster created by industrial waste is particularly resonant in the age of global warming. It’s also, relatively speaking, a grounded concept that could fit right inside the world created in Godzilla Minus One. If Godzilla could be brought to life by nuclear weapons, why not another monster birthed by pollution? More importantly, what happens if those two forces cross paths?

More than any other monster on this list, Hedorah feels like the perfect fit for Yamazaki’s next film. For one, Hedorah has truly become a fan-favorite monster over the years and is due for a comeback. Not only that, but Yamazaki already name-checked Godzilla vs. Hedorah as the movie in the franchise that he would like to remake.

In his hands, a modern take on Hedorah could be truly terrifying. Visually, there is so much to work with as the so-called Smog Monster could, in theory, take on many forms over its life cycle. The possibilities feel limitless.

Perhaps the best avenue for Yamazaki and Toho to explore would be to create something entirely new, rather than revisiting the past. Legendary and Warner Bros. have demonstrated a willingness to create new monsters in the MonsterVerse beginning in 2014’s Godzilla, with director Gareth Edwards introducing us to the Muto.

Why not see what this brilliant filmmaker has up his sleeve so far as original ideas go? After all, Minus One was one of the most refreshing takes on this franchise to come around in decades, if not ever. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see what the man behind that movie can come up with without having to fit into a pre-existing sandbox?

In an era when franchise exploitation feels more prominent than ever, Minus One felt special. It felt like it was coming from a place of creative need, rather than something dictated by a corporation. Creating something original, in terms of another monster in this franchise’s rich history, would feel like a good way to honor that spirit moving forward. Not that seeing a familiar monster given new life would be a bad thing by any stretch, but something new, particularly in the hands of a filmmaker as talented as this, is thrilling.

The Godzilla Minus One sequel does not currently have a release date, but stay tuned. For more, get the lowdown on the film’s 4K, Blu-ray and DVD release.