8 Monsters That Could Appear In The Sequel

Key Takeaways

• The sequel to Godzilla Minus One may feature classic kaiju like Anguirus, Rodan, or Hedorah.
• There’s a good possibility for Godzilla’s arch nemesis, King Ghidorah to return in the next movie.
• Fans are hoping for an entirely new monster to be introduced in the sequel that could breathe new life into the franchise.

Godzilla Minus One is one of the best Godzilla movies ever made. It was a commercial and critical success, not to mention that it even won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Toho is well aware of this film’s reputation, seeing as they just announced that its director, Takashi Yamazaki, will return to direct the next Godzilla movie.

It has not been confirmed whether this new project will feature another kaiju aside from Godzilla. Yet fans immediately began speculating about which classic kaiju might return as either an enemy or an ally to the King of the Monsters. And the following 10 monsters have the best chances of appearing in the sequel to Godzilla Minus One.

8 Anguirus

Godzilla’s First Enemy Could Make His Much-Awaited Return

• First Appearance: Godzilla Raids Again (1955)

Godzilla Minus One could be considered a reimagining of the first Godzilla film from 1954. With that in mind, Yamazaki may want to adapt its sequel, Godzilla Raids Again, next. This was the first entry in the franchise to feature another Kaiju for Godzilla to fight, and his name was Anguirus.

Anguirus may not be as popular as other classic monsters, but he is extremely important to the franchise. It would be both nostalgic and exciting to see him face the King of the Monsters in a more modern movie. On top of that, he’s another mutated dinosaur like Godzilla (an Ankylosaurus, to be precise), so including him wouldn’t break Godzilla Minus One’s more grounded atmosphere.

7 Rodan

This Popular Prehistoric Kaiju Could Offer Something Different

• First Appearance: Rodan (1956)

If Yamazaki desires to make another grounded Godzilla movie with a second prehistoric kaiju, he and Toho may decide to go for Rodan instead of Anguirus. After all, this mutated pterodactyl is the more popular of the two. He has made multiple appearances throughout the franchise, which includes Legendary Pictures’ Monsterverse.

Rodan has shared the screen with Godzilla as both an ally and an enemy. What’s more, he also starred in his own movie, which is not too different in tone from Godzilla (1954). He could be a formidable opponent for the King of the Monsters in a movie that can still keep a relatively realistic tone. Rodan is also very different from Godzilla in both design and skill set, so his inclusion would be refreshing compared to other prehistoric monsters in the series.

6 Hedorah

A Sludge Monster From A Bizarre Movie

• First Appearance: Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)

Directed by the legendary Yoshimitsu Banno, Godzilla vs. Hedorah is one of the weirdest and most divisive Godzilla films, due to its extravagant tones and explicit environmentalist message. However, fans and critics alike have warmed up to it in recent years, especially thanks to its main antagonist, Hedorah.

Curiously enough, Takashi Yamazaki has mentioned that he would love to remake Godzilla vs. Hedorah. It’s not surprising, seeing as the anti-pollution themes of this film have aged quite well. What’s more, Hedorah itself is one of the most distinct and powerful monsters in the entire franchise. Who knows? Maybe Yamazaki’s recent statements were a subtle hint at what he’s planning to do for his next Godzilla film.

5 King Ghidorah

The Most Iconic Godzilla Villain Ever Made

• First Appearance: Ghidorah, The Three Headed Monster (1964)

Toho and Yamazaki might do something experimental for this sequel, like bringing back Anguirus or Hedorah. On the other hand, though, they may go for the safe route and use one of Toho’s most recognizable kaiju instead. This means that there’s a solid possibility that King Ghidorah may be Godzilla’s opponent in the next movie.

He is known worldwide as Godzilla’s arch nemesis, and for good reason. Seeing a new incarnation of King Ghidorah brought to life with the incredible writing and spectacular visual effects of Godzilla Minus One would be amazing for longtime fans of the series. His extraterrestrial origins may be a bit out-there for this new universe, but Toho has changed his lore in previous films, so they could do it again.

4 Mothra

One Of Toho’s Most Popular And Important Characters

• First Appearance: Mothra (1961)

Mothra is one of Toho’s most iconic kaiju, right behind Godzilla and King Ghidorah. It would be easy to bring her back for the sequel to Godzilla Minus One to attract an even bigger audience, especially considering how popular she has become after she was introduced into the western Monsterverse.

The only question is: which role would Mothra have in this upcoming film? She could be a heroic protagonist who fights this villainous incarnation of Godzilla by herself, or she could be an ally who could help the King of the Monsters fight a bigger monster, like the aforementioned King Ghidorah. Whatever they end up going for, it’s certain to be a hit. Mothra almost always stars in some of the best films of the genre.

3 Biollante

This Beloved Kaiju Needs To Make A Comeback

• First Appearance: Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)

Godzilla fans adore Biollante, even though she has appeared in only one movie so far. This gigantic plant monster deserves to make a proper comeback in a modern project, and the sequel to Godzilla Minus One would be the perfect moment for Toho to finally do it.

Biollante is not only enormous and powerful, but her origins are surprisingly tragic. In Godzilla vs. Biollante, she was created when Dr. Genichiro Shiragami combined Godzilla’s cells with the cells of his dead daughter, Erika, and a rose. At the end of Godzilla Minus One, it’s revealed that Noriko Oishi may have survived the initial attack because she had Godzilla’s DNA implanted in her. Yamazaki could easily use this plot thread as a jumping point to introduce Biollante in the sequel.

2 Orga

Its Existence Revolves Around Godzilla’s Powerful Cells

• First Appearance: Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999)

The plot of Godzilla 2000: Millennium revolves around Godzilla’s cells, also known as Organizer G-1. These cells have extraordinary regenerative and healing abilities that could save countless human lives. However, alien beings known as the Millennian managed to get ahold of these cells, which resulted in the creation of a deadly new monster named Orga.

The new incarnation of Godzilla from Godzilla Minus One is notable for his incredible healing, which apparently lets him regenerate from even the smallest fragments of his flesh. This means that Orga could easily be adapted into the sequel as yet another monstrous clone created from Godzilla’s cells. Its origins may need to be changed, but this wouldn’t be much of an issue, considering that it only appeared in one film.

1 A New Monster

The Godzilla Franchise Needs A New Kaiju Icon

It’s highly likely that Toho and Takashi Yamazaki will try to reuse an existing Godzilla monster, like King Ghidorah or Mothra, for this sequel. While that would be quite exciting, this new project could be the perfect excuse to finally introduce a new monster in a live action Godzilla film made entirely in Japan.

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus was released in 2000, and it was the last entry in the series to feature the name of a new and unknown monster in its title. As much as fans love all the classic kaiju, many of them are also begging to see a new creation that could breathe new life into the franchise. Furthermore, Yamazaki has proven that he’s a brilliant director who fully understands and appreciates the kaiju genre. Any new monsters that he creates have the potential to become one of the best and most popular in the Godzilla franchise. Regardless of what he decides to go for, there’s no doubt that the Godzilla Minus One sequel will likely be as high quality as the first movie, and maybe even more.