Godzilla Minus One may be rampaging through theaters, but its director, Takashi Yamazaki, already has his eyes on a new universe: Star Wars.
In a recent interview, Yamazaki revealed his lifelong love for the franchise and his fervent desire to helm a film in it to become the second person of Asian origin to express an interest in the franchise after Ke Huy Quan did the same in November.
During the interview, Yamazaki told Slashfilm, “I watched Star Wars, and that’s how I ended up being a filmmaker. I’m really hoping I will get a call and they will bring me on Star Wars. I think a more Japanese or even just Eastern take on Star Wars would be really, really interesting, so I hope they call me up.”
This isn’t Yamazaki’s first brush with sci-fi spectacle. He previously cited Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind as his inspirations for studying visual effects and pursuing a filmmaking career.
Given Lucasfilm seems to be pulling the levers necessary to return the Star Wars franchise to the big screen after its long absence, Yamazaki’s interest could not have been better timed. Recently, news surfaced that the Donald Glover-led Lando series has been upgraded to a feature film. There are also rumors that an untitled sequel to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is on the way.
With his unique set of skills and experience, Yamazaki is definitely a good candidate for director of any of these movies.
For one, the Japanese filmmaker’s experience with visual effects will come in handy in creating space dogfights and otherworldly environments that are the bread and butter of the Star Wars franchise. His Godzilla Minus One, with its stunning monster battles and immersive world-building, serves as a testament to his capability.
While not on the same scale, Yamazaki’s 2010 film Space Battleship Yamato proves his ability to handle space opera narratives, even with a lower budget. Imagine his vision unleashed on a full-fledged Star Wars film!
Godzilla Minus One has garnered rave reviews, boasting a 96% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and similar praise from audiences. This track record demonstrates Yamazaki’s ability to deliver films that resonate with both critics and fans, a crucial element for any Star Wars director.
Just imagine the possibilities: Yamazaki’s Godzilla-honed visual effects conjuring epic lightsaber duels, his space opera experience crafting thrilling space battles, and his knack for crowd-pleasing narratives weaving a compelling Star Wars story. With a bigger budget and Star Wars’ vast universe at his disposal, the results could be truly spectacular.
Godzilla Minus One is the first of two movies set in the universe with the second movie slated for release next year. The film, titled Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, will see the monster join forces with Kong to take on an ancient foe named Scar King. While both films are not from the same producer, Minus One’s success is sure to pave the way for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.
Regardless of which universe he tackles next, one thing is clear: Yamazaki is a force to be reckoned with in the realm of monster-sized storytelling, and potentially, a galaxy far, far away.
While he waits for his Star Wars call, his Godzilla rampage continues. Godzilla Minus One is tearing through theaters in select countries, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Benelux, Italy, France, Spain, and Poland, among others.
