The story of Godzilla is set to continue with Godzilla Minus Zero, the direct sequel to the Oscar winning 2023 film Godzilla Minus One. The new movie takes place about 2 years after the events of the previous film and once again follows the Shikishima family as they face another dangerous threat. Godzilla Minus One was set in 1945, near the end of World War II.
The film introduced a terrifying version of Godzilla and followed former kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima, Noriko Ōishi and a baby girl named Akiko. The story eventually reached 1947, with Godzilla apparently defeated after causing widespread destruction.
The sequel will continue the story of the Shikishima family. However, their problems are far from over. The newly released trailer shows humans preparing to face Godzilla once again, while also suggesting that another major monster could be involved in the story.
The trailer includes references that have led to speculation about King Ghidorah. The lightning strikes and the roar heard in the footage have caught attention, especially among fans familiar with the monster. Monster Zero is also an alias associated with King Ghidorah, the three headed alien monster who has faced Godzilla several times in the franchise.
The trailer also suggests that humanity may not have many chances left to stop Godzilla. One line states, “The humans won’t get a third chance to defeat Godzilla.” This hints at the scale of the threat the characters could face in the sequel.
Godzilla Minus One became a major international success, earning an estimated $116 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $10 million. Its success also helped strengthen interest in a continuation of Takashi Yamazaki’s version of the Godzilla story.
Godzilla Minus Zero has been written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki. The cast includes Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Min Tanaka, Hidetaka Yoshioka and Masami Nagasawa.
The film will have its world premiere at the 2026 New York Film Festival on September 26, 2026. It will then release theatrically in Japan on November 3, 2026, which is Godzilla Day, through Toho. The film is also the first Japanese production to be filmed for IMAX.
The North American release is scheduled for November 6, 2026, through GKIDS and Toho. This will mark the first time a Godzilla film opens in the same week in North America and Japan.
