Summary
Warning: Spoilers for Godzilla Minus One
If a tease inGodzilla Minus Oneis any indication, a long-awaited monster rematch may finally be on the horizon. Without an official announcement on aGodzilla Minus Onesequel, it’s hard to say if the new take on the King of the Monsters will make a return. However,Godzilla Minus One’sendingcertainly does open the door for a comeback.
AlthoughGodzilla Minus One’smain characterssucceeded in destroying Godzilla, the final scene confirmed that part of him survived. The clear implication is that Godzilla will eventually regenerate and return to menace Japan at a later date. This gives Toho an obvious framework for a second movie.Based onGodzilla Minus One’srecord-breaking box office haul, such a scenario happening hardly feels implausible. As for what the story could entail, there’s a good chance Toho won’t want another Godzilla vs. Japan standoff. Instead, it may pit him against a monster from his past.
Why Noriko Could Transform Into A Godzilla-Like Monster In Godzilla Minus One 2
Noriko Having Godzilla’s DNA Could Have Disastrous Consequences
In the midst of an emotionally satisfying conclusion to Koichi’s story,Godzilla Minus Oneominously laid the groundwork for a tragic twist. When Koichi was embracing Noriko, a strange, black mark materialized on her neck. Its sudden appearance brought into question the events that transpired when Noriko got swept up in the aftershock ofGodzilla’s atomic breath blast.Because she was in proximity to Godzilla’s radioactive power, it’s not impossible that Noriko was irradiatedor physically affected by it in some way.
There’s also the matter of Noriko’s shocking recovery. Koichi’s belief that Noriko was dead wasn’t without good reason; the situation she was in would have been fatal to any normal human. Not only did she survive, but she walked away in one piece, with few - if any - scars or injuries to show for it. This would make sense, though, if the black mark on her neck signifies Noriko being infected with Godzilla’s DNA. AsGodzilla Minus Onemade abundantly clear in multiple scenes, Godzilla possesses an astounding regeneration ability.If she shares Godzilla’s DNA now, she could have acquired his healing powersunknowingly.
It’s important to note that Noriko simply developing a superpower would hardly serve the sequel’s story, especially when considering that giant monsters are the true focus of the franchise. With that in mind,there’s a chance that whatGodzilla Minus Oneis really setting up is Koichi’s love interest transforming into a monster of some kind. A human becoming a kaiju would be an unusual occurrence in Godzilla’s universe, but not one that would be wholly unprecedented.
Noriko’s Future Could Set Up A Godzilla Rematch Toho Teased 35 Years Ago
Will Godzilla Finally Get Another Shot At Biollante?
IfGodzilla Minus Oneis indeed paving the way for Noriko to become an existing monster in Godzilla’s franchise, the most natural candidate for this role would be Biollante. Out of all themonster villains in Godzilla’s rogues' gallery, only Biollante transformed from a human being. InGodzilla vs. Biollante, the titular opponent to Godzilla was born from an experiment that combined DNA from Godzilla, a rose, and a deceased young woman named Erika. When Biollante was created, she was perceived as Erika reborn in the body of a monster.
Interestingly,Godzilla vs. Biollante’sending didn’t culminate in a conclusive victory for Godzilla. Rather, her poisonous sap incapacitated him before her apparent defeat, meaning that the result of the fight could be fairly labeled as a tie. And unlike other villains of the Heisei era, Biollante survived her movie.Godzilla vs. Biollanteended with the monster flying out into outer space, creating the impression that she might be back for a sequel, perhaps for a more definitive ending to her battle with Godzilla.
In spite of Biollante’s enduring popularity as a Godzilla villain, the kaiju never made a second live-action appearance. While Gigan, King Ghidorah, and even lesser-known villains like Ebirah and Hedorah were given opportunities to return, Billante remains among the scant few Godzilla enemies to never get a rematch with the King of the Monsters. The idea of it finally happening has been entertained in the past, withGodzilla: King of the Monstersdirector Mike Doughertyexpressing an interest in bringing Biollante into the Monsterverse. However, this scenario has never come to fruition in any form.
Why Godzilla Minus One 2 Could Be An Unofficial Godzilla vs. Biollante Remake
It Could Take Heavy Inspiration From Godzilla Vs. Biollante
The prospect of Noriko becoming Biollantecould lead to a surprisingly familiar story, and not just because of the matchup choice.Godzilla Minus One’scharacterization of Godzilla makes it likely that if Noriko were to transform into Biollante, the kaiju’s fight with Godzilla would be under circumstances extremely similar to their first fight. Not unlike theGodzilla vs. Biollanteversion,Minus One’sGodzilla has a villainous reputation among the human characters. Because of that, Godzilla and Biollante’s fight may not be a black-and-white battle between good and evil; in fact, Biollante could be looked at as the “good guy” in the battle.
That wouldn’t be far off fromGodzilla vs. Biollante’sdepiction of the action. While Biollante was also regarded as a threat to Japan, the movie ended with the characters thanking Biollante for halting Godzilla’s rampage. It’s not hard to imagine a Biollante story inGodzilla Minus One 2playing out in the same way, with neither being the clear-cut hero.
Why Biollante Is The Perfect Choice To Be Godzilla’s Opponent In Minus One 2
When looking atwhat madeGodzilla Minus Onework so well, a follow-up to it acting as an unofficial sequel toGodzilla vs Biollantewould actually be an appropriate move. Making it a “versus” movie would be a challenge, especially since adding another monster to the equation would detract from one of its best elements, the human story. That’s why Noriko’s Biollante, a monster with a personal connection to the plot, could be the perfect way forGodzilla Minus One 2to maintain a balance of monster fighting and powerful storytelling.
If the woman Koichi loves slowly morphs into a horrendous, Godzilla-sized creature, he’d be facing a new tragedy that would easily justify his story continuing on the big screen. What’s more, such a development could be on par emotionally with the journey that he went through inGodzilla Minus One. The characters coming to terms with Noriko’s fate, if handled well, could make the movie a fitting tribute to a classic Heisei era film and a worthy sequel toGodzilla Minus One.
