Toho Cancels Ambitious Four-Part Godzilla Saga That The Monsterverse Could Resurrect After 34 Years

In the past, excitement brewed over the potential creation of an ambitious four-part film series featuring Godzilla in battle against one of his most formidable adversaries, Bagan. Unfortunately, the project never materialized. However, the concept harbors considerable potential, particularly within the framework of Legendary’s Monsterverse franchise. Bagan possesses a captivating design and a rich backstory that could seamlessly integrate into the universe that encompasses Godzilla.

The narrative direction taken in “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”exemplifies the franchise’s willingness to embrace expansive storytelling across multiple films. Serving as a direct continuation of “Godzilla vs. Kong,”this latest installment picks up on unresolved themes from the 2021 movie and further explores the intricate relationship between its iconic titans. Initially, plans existed for a trilogy, and with evolving circumstances, the upcoming films could pave the way for a brand-new saga, perhaps drawing inspiration from the original ideas that never reached fruition.

Toho’s Ambitious Series Involving Godzilla, Mothra, and Bagan

Incorporating the Heisei Version of Godzilla

Insights from “The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monsters: The Lost Films”by John LeMay reveal Toho’s initial consideration for developing a four-part kaiju saga. This series aimed to explore narrative arcs introduced in “Godzilla vs. Biollante”(1989), centering primarily on the battle between Mothra and Bagan. The creature Bagan, conceptualized by Godzilla’s creator Tomoyuki Tanaka, is a shapeshifting monster rooted in Chinese mythology. Initially intended to be pitted against Godzilla, a draft from 1990 instead proposed a clash with Mothra.

LeMay outlines that the narrative of “Mothra vs. Bagan”was designed to remain open-ended, setting up future installments. A potential sequel known only as “Godzilla 3″was intended to delve deeper into Bagan’s extraterrestrial origins while also reviving Godzilla, who had been incapacitated after his encounter with Biollante. However, this sequel never came to pass, leading to Toho shifting to “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah”to address lingering narrative threads.

The decision to transition towards “Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah”can be linked, at least in part, to the failure of “Mothra vs. Bagan”to come to fruition. LeMay notes that Toho might have hesitated due to concerns about box office performance for kaiju films lacking Godzilla, who has consistently proven to be a draw for audiences.

While the specific details of the prospective saga remain ambiguous, it’s intriguing to consider how Bagan would have factored into other installments. The absence of Godzilla as a featured kaiju in both the first and second proposed films raises questions about the inclusion of yet another monster as the focus of a concluding chapter. Speculatively, the final part of the saga could have culminated in a grand team-up of Godzilla, Mothra, and this third monster.

The Monsterverse: Drawing from Toho’s Unfulfilled Vision

A Clash of Titans: Bagan’s Role in the Monsterverse

The ambitious narrative concepts originally envisioned by Toho for their kaiju saga still display significant cinematic promise. While a full quadrilogy in the Monsterverse may not be feasible, the franchise’s new Apple TV+ spinoffs offer an excellent opportunity to structure interwoven stories through films and television. This integrative approach can establish a coherent storyline that effectively emphasizes the looming threat of Bagan, whom audiences could gradually come to recognize as a substantial force.

To realize Bagan’s potential, the Monsterverse could explore narratives centered on Titans other than Godzilla or Kong. While a solo film may be ambitious, a dedicated series focused on one of the various Titans inhabiting this universe appears plausible. Such a storyline might see characters encountering Bagan in the Hollow Earth, ultimately setting the stage for an epic confrontation between the iconic Godzilla and this new threat. Additionally, with Mothra’s revival in the latest film, her inclusion in a storyline opposed to Bagan would resonate deeply, particularly given her connections with the character.

Integrating Bagan into the Monsterverse

Bagan: A New Standout in the Monsterverse Titan Roster

Securing the licensing rights for Bagan poses a challenge, yet his inclusion in the Monsterverse could prove to be a remarkable enhancement to the roster of Titans. The character’s backstory as a terror from ancient China aligns seamlessly with the mythology and world-building already established by Legendary, allowing for creative storytelling possibilities. Bagan’s metamorphoses include forms resembling a dragon, a monkey, and an aquatic monster, enabling him to pose a threat in multiple environments: air, land, and sea. Notably, each of these forms possesses lesser strength than Godzilla, indicating a need for an ultimate form to provide a truly formidable challenge.

Bagan’s diverse abilities and history could be effectively integrated into the Monsterverse, allowing for various design interpretations across projects without risking their novelty. This flexibility offers intriguing potential for dynamic battles; for instance, Bagan could engage Mothra or Rodan in aerial combat, take on Godzilla underwater, and face Kong on land. Each form could maintain an air of mystery, creating the illusion of distinct monsters throughout history until the interconnected narrative exposes the truth.

Source & Images