Godzilla is set to burst back onto theater screens in Godzilla Minus Zero this November. However, Toho has recently hinted at much larger ambitions for its legendary King of the Monsters through a new initiative called Godzilla World.

This ambitious plan aims to expand and interconnect the Japanese Godzilla universe, mirroring the way Hollywood's MonsterVerse franchise has modernized the American Godzilla and King Kong IPs.

Expanding the Kaiju Universe with Godzilla World

Speaking to Japan’s News Picks, Chief Godzilla Officer Keiji Oint (yes, that is a real job title) hinted at what is in store for the franchise over the coming years. Ota explained that the strategy relies on both established hits and fresh ideas.

“In addition to the Godzilla films created by Hideaki Anno (2016’s Shin Godzilla) and Takashi Yamazaki (Godzilla Minus One and the upcoming Godzilla Minus Zero), if Toho itself creates original concepts for Godzilla, we will be able to strategically produce spin-offs as well,” Ota noted.

The strategy is modeled after successful Western franchise building. Ota stated, “Just as Legendary has its MonsterVerse, we are currently progressing with plans to call ours Godzilla World.”

A New Era of Spin-offs and Original Concepts

Ota believes that focusing on original concepts could sustain the franchise for decades. “If we focus on creating original concepts (for Godzilla), we might be able to keep the franchise going for another 50 years,” Ota added.

This flexibility allows for various creative interpretations. Toho owns 100% of the Godzilla IP, providing the creative freedom to launch diverse projects like the kids’ anime series Chibi Godzilla Raids Again (2023-). This approach is vital to transforming the brand from a movie-centric franchise into a massive multimedia IP.

Transitioning from Movie Star to Multimedia IP

Historically, Godzilla functioned primarily as a cinematic icon. Ota noted that while the character drew crowds, the revenue was not always sustainable. “Godzilla used to be a ‘movie star,’ he only appeared on the silver screen. Although he would draw crowds with each new release, this enthusiasm was limited to each individual movie and did not translate into sustainable revenue,” Ota explained.

After 2004’s Godzilla: Final Wars, the character entered a cinematic hiatus that lasted until the 2014 Hollywood reboot. The global success of that film inspired Toho to bring the monster back for Shin Godzilla.

Ota expressed gratitude to the Hollywood team, stating: “I’m extremely grateful to (Godzilla 2014’s) director Gareth Edwards for making me realize just how deeply loved Godzilla is all over the world.”

To ensure long-term growth, Toho is moving away from a reliance on single movie hits. While Toho saw record profits recently thanks to Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Kokuho, the company wants a continuous growth model.

Toho’s expansion plans include:

  • New Godzilla Stores internationally
  • International Godzilla ride attractions
  • Console video games
  • Streaming series
  • New anime formats

To fund this vision, Toho will invest over 15 billion yen (approximately $94 million) into the kaiju over the next three years, backed by a 10-year roadmap.

Learning from the MonsterVerse Model

Toho is actively studying how Legendary Pictures links its films together. Ota was impressed by the ability to design a shared world, much like Marvel. “They are linking the Godzilla movies together, rather than just viewing them as standalones. They are creating these movies with the concept of building a franchise within a vast universe,” Ota said.

While the Godzilla World initiative takes shape, the Hollywood MonsterVerse remains in full swing, with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters currently in its second season and Godzilla x Kong: Supernova scheduled for release on March 26, 2027.