‘Godzilla Minus Zero’: Hedorah, the Rumored Monster Villain, Explained

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Okay, folks, huge news for monster movie fans! I’m thrilled to report that a sequel to the incredible Godzilla Minus One is officially happening! It’s titled Godzilla Minus Zero, and Takashi Yamazaki is back in the director’s chair – fantastic! We’re looking at a 2026 release, which feels like a long wait, but trust me, it’ll be worth it. Right now, details are scarce, but the big question on everyone’s mind is: what new Kaiju will Godzilla battle? The speculation is already running wild, and honestly, I’m here for it!

Yamazaki’s previous Godzilla ride at his amusement park already included monsters like King Ghidorah and Rodan, so many fans expect his new movie to introduce a fresh villain. Godzilla has a long history of memorable enemies, including Biollante, Gigan, and the original Anguirus. However, a widely discussed fan theory suggests Godzilla Minus Zero will reimagine Hedorah, also known as the Smog Monster.

Who Is Hedorah?


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Hedorah first appeared in the 1971 film Godzilla vs. Hedorah, released in the US as Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster. This alien creature arrives on Earth via comet and grows by consuming pollution, eventually becoming a massive sea monster that can spray sulfuric acid. Hedorah is one of Godzilla’s toughest opponents, capable of burning through his normally invulnerable hide. Unlike Godzilla, Hedorah can swim, walk on land, and even fly, giving it a significant advantage in battle. Ultimately, Godzilla defeats Hedorah with his atomic breath, aided by scientists who create special devices to dehydrate the monster’s skin.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah was a unique entry in the Godzilla series, marking the only film directed by Yoshimitsu Banno. Banno developed the story and the concept of a pollution-based monster, Hedorah, after witnessing severe smog in cities like Yokkaichi and foamy ocean pollution from detergents. With producer Tomoyuki Tanaka unwell and absent from the set, Banno included a now-famous – and often ridiculed – scene where Godzilla uses his atomic breath to fly backward, a moment famously parodied in shows like Mystery Science Theater 3000. Tanaka strongly disliked this scene, believing Banno had damaged the character of Godzilla, and subsequently prevented him from directing any further Godzilla films.

Hedorah was originally intended to be a recurring Godzilla enemy, but plans changed. Before director Banno was prevented from continuing with the Godzilla series, he began outlining a sequel, Godzilla vs. Hedorah 2, featuring a new pollution monster in Africa. Banno subtly suggested Hedorah’s possible return at the end of Godzilla vs. Hedorah, showing a drawing of a young Hedorah with the question, “and yet another one?”, hinting at future appearances.

After Tanaka’s passing, Banno dedicated years to developing a follow-up film – a 40-minute 3D IMAX short called Godzilla 3D: To the Max. This new installment would have featured a reimagined version of Hedorah, renamed Deathla. Unfortunately, the project was canceled, and Banno then became an executive producer on the 2014 Godzilla reboot, which launched the MonsterVerse. He died on May 7, 2017, but was later credited on Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Takashi Yamazaki Has Discussed Wanting To Remake ‘Godzilla vs. Hedorah’


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Although Godzilla vs. Hedorah received negative reviews when it first came out in Japan, it’s now a beloved cult film. Notable fans include the late film critic Roger Ebert, Godzilla vs. Kong director Adam Wingard, and Godzilla Minus One and the upcoming Godzilla Minus Zero director Takashi Yamazaki. At a Godzilla 70th Anniversary event at New York Comic-Con in October 2024, Yamazaki revealed that if he could remake any previous Godzilla movie, he’d choose Godzilla vs. Hedorah, stating:

I’ve always been fascinated by Hedorah. For its time, it was such a uniquely creative monster, and thinking about what we can achieve with visual effects now, I can’t help but imagine how incredible a modern remake could be. I’d love to see how they’d reimagine its movements with today’s technology – it would be truly amazing!

While this doesn’t definitively confirm Hedorah will appear in Godzilla Minus Zero, or that any other monsters will be featured alongside Godzilla, director Yamazaki mentioning Hedorah a year ago is interesting. It’s exciting to think about how the team behind the visually stunning Godzilla Minus One could reimagine a villain like Hedorah with modern special effects. The MonsterVerse has largely focused on well-known Godzilla enemies like King Ghidorah, Rodan, and Mothra, with Space Godzilla potentially joining them in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. However, it would be fitting for a Toho-produced Godzilla film like Minus Zero to showcase a different, unique villain like Hedorah.

Does the Title ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ Give Away Hedorah’s Role in the Film?


Toho

The title Godzilla Minus Zero has sparked debate among fans, with some wondering if it hints at the appearance of King Ghidorah (also known as Monster Zero). However, it could also suggest the return of Hedorah. Director Takashi Yamazaki explained that Godzilla Minus One‘s title had a double meaning: it referenced Japan’s recovery from a devastated “post-war zero” state to a “minus” one, and indicated the film’s events take place before the original 1954 Godzilla movie. Therefore, Godzilla Minus Zero might also refer to both a return to normalcy (zero) and a time period before 1954, with the “minus” sign adding a sense of something ominous to come.

Set in 1954, the film could reference the real-life Castle Bravo nuclear test at Bikini Atoll, which exposed the crew of the Lucky Dragon 5 fishing boat to radiation. While Godzilla’s origins are usually tied to this test, the new film, Minus One, connects his powers to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This means the Castle Bravo test could either explain Godzilla’s return in Minus Zero or lead to the emergence of Hedorah – a monster created by nuclear pollution and fueled by increasing environmental damage from things like cars and factories in both Japan and the United States after World War II.

As a huge Godzilla fan, I’m already getting excited about what comes next after Godzilla Minus One! It’ll be a while before we get more details about the sequel, but it’s cool to think that a movie like Godzilla Minus Zero – which fans actually turned around and loved after it was initially seen as a weak point – could inspire where they go next. Honestly, after seeing how Takashi Yamazaki brought the terror back to Godzilla, imagining what he could do with a monster like Hedorah is amazing. It could be just as good, or even better than Minus One!

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2025-11-10 02:04