Takashi Yamazaki has already rampaged his way through the Japanese film industry, with his 2023 feature Godzilla Minus One becoming a box office hit and earning him an Oscar.
Now, he is headed to Hollywood for his first studio movie. Yamazaki will direct Nue for 20th Century Studios, a film that will team him with Ridley Scott‘s Scott Free banner.
The logline is buried deep in the ocean, but it’s an original concept Yamazaki has been thinking of for years.
Yamazaki entered the global stage with Godzilla Minus One, which was set in post World War II Japan and centered on a disgraced kamikaze pilot who must redeem himself when Godzilla attacks his country. Made for just $10 million, it earned $116 million globally, and won the Oscar for visual effects, with Yamazaki among the recipients. The director has already shot the sequel, Godzilla Minus Zero, in which Godzilla heads to New York. GKIDS will release the follow-up theatrically on Nov. 6.
“Nue has been a lifelong dream of mine. I am honored to have the opportunity to make it happen with the creative brilliance of Ridley Scott and Scott Free and the fantastic team at 20th Century Studios. I will do my upmost to ensure this becomes a fantastic movie for all to see,” said Yamazaki in a statement.
Nue continues 20th’s decades-long relationship with Scott, who directed 1979’s Alien for the studio and whose Scott Free banner has long had a first-look deal there. Scott also is also a longtime collaborator of 20th Century head Steve Asbell, with the pair first working together on the 2005 feature Kingdom of Heaven.
“We’re delighted to be working with Takashi Yamazaki and his team on this magnificent original sci-fi film for our partners at 20th Century Studios,” said Scott. “We’ve long admired Takashi’s visionary and skillful story-telling, exemplified by his superb production of Godzilla Minus One. We’re looking forward to helping him bring this major project to life to audiences around the world.”
Scott will produce along Michael Pruss. Also producign are Keiichiro Moriya and Go Abe from Robot Communications; Toho-Tombo’s Georgina Pope; and Amie Horiuchi. Scott Aversano will oversee for 20th.
“Takashi Yamazaki’s filmmaking resonates with audiences across cultures and generations. What he achieved with Godzilla Minus One was extraordinary, combining spectacle with deeply emotional storytelling. We’re thrilled to be partnering with him and reuniting once again with our longtime collaborators at Scott Free as we bring an entirely original epic to life,” said David Greenbaum, president of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios, and 20th president Asbell.
Yamakazi is repped by CAA and Greenberg Traurig. Scott Free is repped by CAA.
Leave a Reply