We May Have Already Seen Godzilla Minus Zero’s Villain Outside Of The Movies

Director Takashi Yamazaki went toe-to-toe with the Legendary Monsterverse in 2023 with the release of his Oscar-winning triumph Godzilla Minus One. Now, just as the world of the Monsterverse has expanded to include dozens of other monsters aside from Godzilla, Toho’s flagship Godzilla franchise is poised to do the same in late 2026.

In the recently-named sequel Godzilla Minus Zero, the world’s most famous radioactive menace is set to take on another monster. While there are no plot details available yet, speculation is naturally flying about which ally or enemy from Godzilla’s extensive Toho history will appear, and whether Godzilla will be the one attacking or defending Japan when they do.

While there have been no public clues at all about who else besides the newly-regenerated Godzilla will appear in Godzilla Minus Zero, it’s possible that Yamazaki may have already shown his hand outside the movie industry. Another Yamazaki project involving Godzilla may have even revealed the iconic monster he plans to include in Godzilla Minus Zero.

Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Has Battled Mechagodzilla And King Ghidorah In Japanese Simulator Rides

In May 2021, the much-anticipated theater simulator ride Godzilla the Ride: Giant Monsters Ultimate Battle opened in conjunction with the reopening of the Seibuen Amusement Park in Tokorozawa City in Saitama, Japan. The five-minute simulator experience places riders in the midst of a battle between Godzilla and his archnemesis King Ghidorah, with the story written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki.

Yamazaki designed the monsters for the ride, and the version in the ride is extraordinarily similar to the kaiju-sized version of Godzilla Minus One. He continued his work with Godzilla by handling the writing, direction, and VFX for the second Godzilla attraction at the Seibuen Amusement Park, which opened in August 2025.

As with the first ride, the second experience (titled Godzilla The Ride: Great Clash) places the audience in the middle of a battle, but this time it’s between Godzilla and a new version of Mechagodzilla. Once again, it was Yamazaki who was responsible for the design of the creatures, meaning we’ve now seen Yamazaki’s initial visions for Godzilla and his two most iconic antagonists.

Predictably, the presence of the two villains in projects written and directed by Yamazaki that center around his version of Godzilla points to one (or both) of King Ghidorah and Mechagodzilla appearing in Godzilla Minus Zero. Given the somewhat grounded nature and post-WWII setting of Godzilla Minus One, a Japanese-controlled Mechagodzilla feels unlikely given the extreme technological jump that would need to be made in that universe.

However, both King Ghidorah and Mechagodzilla are possible in the context of alien interference on Earth, as has been the case with the two classic villains time and again with Toho. If Yamazaki chooses to embrace tradition in what has been called a “statement” movie, then Godzilla Minus Zero could see one of Godzilla’s very best baddies show up to terrorize Japan, making their destructive former adversary their protector by default.

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Director

Takashi Yamazaki

Writers

Takashi Yamazaki

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  Ryunosuke Kamiki

  Koichi Shikishima

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  Minami Hamabe

  Noriko Oishi