Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla (2014) Is The Biggest Monster To Date; Talks Part 2

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Previous to the Legendary panel on Saturday that revealed footage of Godzilla, director Gareth Edwards participated in an extensive interview where he spoke about the monster and more.

Regarding the look of Godzilla, as we have seen in the latest movie poster as well as the concept statue, they seem to be going for more of an original approach, with Edwards stating more of a modern version.

“We’ve worked really hard to get the design just right, modernize it,” Edwards offered. “I think if you literally did the original 1954 Godzilla – which was my favorite – it would not work; the guy in the suit aspect obviously wouldn’t stand up today. The idea was if that creature really existed and you witnessed it back then, and you kind of ran back to Tojo, and you tied to make a suit. When you see our Godzilla, you understand they arrived at that, but it’s like the literal, realistic version of that same species.”

Gareth Edwards then takes a fan question from Twitter about Pacific Rim and his thoughts on the recent Guillermo Del Toro kaiju movie. Edwards says he likes it and offers more of his own take on the Godzilla movie.

“We are trying to take it very seriously; it’s very suspenseful. You do have the big epic spectacle, but the sort of stylistically, the sort of films that we ended up referencing quite a lot were things from the late 70s and early 80s; the films that I grew up with and loved as a kid.” Edward said. “So we try to go back to that vibe and pace and tone and hopefully people will be surprised. I think one of the things I’m most proud of is the screenplay is quite emotional,” the director continued. “When you read it, the characters that drive us through this journey in the film, I hope that you really start to genuinely care about them. It was really important to me that the people you follow on this journey through all these events were people you were really rooting for and were real.”

Another fan also asked if this Godzilla movie is the beginning of a new franchise, with Edwards responding he would like that to be the case.

“I don’t look at it that way. I’ve tried to make the best film that we can as a I’m sure, I would love to play in this universe again. I have seen the love for Godzilla and what we have created, and hopefully if it does well enough they will invite me back to the party, and we’ll see what happens,” he said.

Edwards was then asked if Godzilla left room for more about the monster in later movies with the director not responding but smiling and laughing.

Gareth is also asked about the size of the Godzilla monster in the movie and offers it’s the biggest one to date. Godzilla is listed at around 328 feet, so Edwards’ monster will be slightly larger.

“I think I can say the tallest one that has ever been. Just about. It’s like when they build the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building and they put a little antennae on and it’s like it’s the tallest one. We did loads of tests for the size, it’s not like we just didn’t pluck it out; we did all these tests we created and he is a certain size for a reason. You make him too big, you can’t do any of the storytelling and have fun as much. If you make him too small he’s not quite as scary. I feel like the height we mad him is just right for him.”

You can watch more of Gareth Edwards talking Godzilla in the following video:

Godzilla opens May 16, 2014 in 3D starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, and Juliette Binoche, with David Strathairn and Bryan Cranston. The screenplay is by Max Borenstein, Frank Darabont, and Dave Callaham.

Synopsis:

An epic rebirth to Toho’s iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure pits the world’s most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.