Unmade 1972 Monster Movie Shows Ultimate Villain Team-Up That Even Godzilla Can’t Defeat

Godzilla vs. Gigan almost featured a legendary lineup of monsters that would have resulted in one of the most formidable villain alliances in cinematic history. While many films in the Godzilla franchise typically follow the straightforward “versus”format showcasing Godzilla against a singular antagonist, several installments have opted to challenge him with multiple foes. This scenario often sees Godzilla facing overwhelming odds, as exemplified in 2014’s Godzilla. Conversely, certain narratives—like the conclusion of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire—have introduced partnerships, allowing Godzilla to gain allies to counter his adversaries.

Team-ups of villains have been a staple in the Godzilla universe since 1972, with Godzilla vs. Gigan marking a significant milestone. In this classic film, one of Godzilla’s former foes turned allies, Anguirus, teamed up with Godzilla for a thrilling two-on-two showdown against King Ghidorah and Gigan, the latter making his debut. This duel was intense, with Godzilla facing possible defeat, a circumstance that would have been exacerbated had Toho pursued an earlier vision for the film.

The Return of King Ghidorah Would Have Introduced Three Formidable Foes

Godzilla, Rodan, and Varan Against Gigan, King Ghidorah, and Megalon

While Godzilla vs. Gigan presented a challenging duo of adversaries in Gigan and King Ghidorah, an earlier draft of the storyline proposed an even more formidable scenario. Initially entitled The Return of King Ghidorah!, the concept included a climactic three-on-three showdown instead of the final two-on-two arrangement. As elaborated in John LeMay’s The Big Book of Giant Japanese Monster Movies: The Lost Films, Godzilla was set to confront this trio by battling not only Gigan and Ghidorah but also Megalon.

This would have marked Megalon’s debut a year early before he officially appeared in Godzilla vs. Megalon. In that particular film, Godzilla was aided by Jet Jaguar in defeating Gigan and Megalon. However, in the envisioned match against Ghidorah and Gigan, Godzilla would have been joined by Rodan and Varan as his allies. Rodan had previously proven capable as a partner in earlier films, but even with these reinforcements, Godzilla’s prospects for victory would still be questionable.

Why The Return of King Ghidorah! Would Have Outmatched All Other Villain Team-ups

Gigan, Megalon, and Ghidorah: A Daunting Challenge for Godzilla

Throughout his cinematic history, Gigan has often joined forces with both Megalon and Ghidorah against Godzilla. However, a scenario where he would face both heavyweights simultaneously has never been depicted. Had The Return of King Ghidorah! been realized, Godzilla would have confronted a daunting trifecta of iconic kaiju. Considering Ghidorah’s past of battling entire kaiju teams and the significant challenges Godzilla faced from Gigan in the conclusive battle of the existing film, the compounded threat would have raised the stakes immensely.

Gigan’s lethal close combat skills combined with Ghidorah’s prowess in aerial assaults and energy projection, coupled with Megalon’s unique abilities, would present Godzilla with a remarkable challenge—almost an insurmountable one. While Megalon might not appear as formidable individually, he possesses distinct capabilities, such as drilling attacks and burrowing, contributing to the chaos against Godzilla.

This proposed team-up exceeds the previous villain collaborations in the franchise, not only due to each character’s individual strengths but also their synergistic potential in combat. Historically, when Godzilla has faced multiple enemies, the collective power of these foes has often been underwhelming, as seen with the Kamacuras swarm in Son of Godzilla.

Toho’s Canceled Concept for The Return of King Ghidorah! Sheds Light on Future Directions for Godzilla Films

Over 50 years have passed since the shelved project The Return of King Ghidorah!, and the absence of a monster team-up of such caliber in the franchise today highlights a noticeable void. Although films like Destroy All Monsters and Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster have assembled incredible hero collaborations, they have yet to replicate this concept with compelling villains. Godzilla: Final Wars did feature an array of adversaries, albeit dispersed throughout the narrative.

As future films emerge—such as the anticipated sequel to Godzilla x Kong or Toho’s follow-up to Godzilla Minus One—the franchise could explore daring avenues by uniting a trio of Godzilla’s nemeses. After all, a three-on-three showdown remains unexplored territory in Godzilla’s cinematic legacy. Elevating the stakes in this manner could introduce an exhilarating new dimension to climactic battles, fitting seamlessly into the evolving narrative of the Monsterverse, which has thus far raised the stakes with every new installment.

As for potential villain combinations, numerous exciting possibilities exist. Although the initial trio of Gigan, Megalon, and Ghidorah is off the table for the Monsterverse due to the former’s fate in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, incorporating Gigan and Megalon makes logical sense. Given the introduction of extraterrestrial Titans in the Monsterverse, Gigan’s re-emergence is plausible, while Megalon’s underground origins align well with the franchise’s Hollow Earth concept. Other potential contenders, like Biollante, Destoroyah, SpaceGodzilla, or Hedorah, could also serve as capable substitutes for Ghidorah.

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