Above, director Yoshimitsu Banno announces his Godzilla in 3D/Imax project to G-TOUR.Back in August 2004, J. D. Lees led 60 Godzilla fans to Japan to celebrate Godzilla's 50th anniversary with G-TOUR. While G-TOUR was in Tokyo, a dinner party was held at the Roppongi, Tokyo TGI Friday's restaurant. One of the guests at the dinner was Godzilla vs. Hedorah director Yoshimitsu Banno.
Banno gave a talk to the assembled fans and disclosed that he was given the green light to produce a 3D/Imax feature featuring Godzilla by Toho Co., Ltd. The feature was entitled Godzilla: 3D to the Max. This was to be an independent production financed by Banno's group. That year, Toho announced that they were putting Godzilla on a ten-year vacation due to slumping ticket sales.
Ever since, rumors have been floating around on who would be involved, whether or not financing for the project was obtained and what monsters will be in the movie.
Reports of the comings and goings of different entities have been reported on the Internet in the ensuing years.
A few weeks ago, Ken Hulsey at Monster Island News* reported on some news of the project. This was, understandably, met with skepticism.
This week, Hulsey found this little tidbit:
This 2004 movie was directed by Keith Melton who also made a four-minute motion simulator ride film about James Bond, "Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man" and is working on "Godzilla 3D."
That little nugget was found here.
The questions Godzilla fans are wondering about are: Is the Godzilla: 3D to the Max project really back on track? Is it in pre-production or is it actually, really now being produced?
It appears that the evidence is starting to show that the on-again, off-again Godzilla: 3D to the Max project may be on-again. We'll see.
All one can say at present is stay tuned!
*I am a contributor to Monster Island News.
UPDATE: Ken Hulsey pulled his post that was posted this week on the project containing the link to the article on Keith Melton's alleged involvement. Meanwhile, Brett Homenick sent a query to Kenji Okuhira, the film's producer, on May 19 on whether or not the project is on and he specifically asked if Melton was involved, to which he replied the same day, "Thanks for your inquiry. It is not true, I am afraid. I hope this helps." I sent Keith Melton a query this morning on the article that Hulsey found. If I receive a reply worth noting, I'll advise. Looks like this is another dead-end.
UPDATE (6/2/09): Cleve Hall posted at the Classic Horror Film Board saying that the Godzilla 3D project is "sorta back on track" but without Yoshimitsu Banno or his company. It is to be filmed in the U.S. and the principals are "acquiring financing" now. I don't know how accurate this is, just reporting it.
Unfortunately, I had to pull my article after I talked to Chris Bergeron, the writer of the article I cited. I found out from him that he got his info from IMDB, not from Melton himself, as I had assuned.
ReplyDeleteIt was my hope that not many people saw the blurb, of course, they did.
I just wish that someone would come forward and say whether Godzilla 3D is on or off. I wonder why all the secrecy?
Ken, your guess is as good as mine. I just have a feeling that Banno & Co. are hopeful that they can get it off the ground, but the main bugaboo is, as usual, financing it. The economy is not helping any as Japan has its own economic problems.
ReplyDeleteI really haven't paid too much attention to the matter until recently. I would go by what the update I posted says and leave it at that until there is something concrete to report.
Don't feel so bad, this all came to light back during G-TOUR five years ago and things looked pretty optimistic then. All we can do is follow the story to wherever it leads. If it comes to a dead end, we just have to say so. There's nothing to apologize for on that.