What are your expectations for Shin Gojira 2?

I currently don't have any expectations since it's yet to be greenlit and Anno isn't returning.

However, I don't expect a sequel to follow up much with the creatures splitting out of his tail. The reasons are fairly simple. First of all, the ending is exactly the kind of strange, symbolic and unexplained thing that Anno does with most of his films. It leaves audiences bewildered and disturbed because there isn't much of an explanation for it.

Second, although I enjoy that Toho wanted to do something different with Godzilla, I believe they will also maintain the basic concept of him for future films. I feel as though the creatures splitting from his tail were not offspring, but merely his next evolution. Remember, Godzilla is called the "perfect" organism and it's hinted that his body can evolve into the next best, superior creature. Symbolically and literally, since Godzilla's enemy was a committee of humans, and his current form was being defeated by said committee, his body recognized this and tried to evolve into a committee of humanoids itself. But it was too late and he was frozen instead.

To counter the idea (and issue) that Godzilla might evolve into something that is not the usual "idea" of Godzilla, I think it would be wise for the filmmakers to follow a path regarding "damaged" biology with Godzilla. For instance, what if the blood coagulate caused enough problems with his cells that he is no longer able to evolve? Thus he could not turn into smaller creatures or grow wings and fly anymore, as it was theorized. Instead his evolution could be restricted to perfecting his current form, which would give filmmakers the freedom to continue to tweek Godzilla's look from movie-to-movie, just like most films--Only this time we have an in-story reason for any physical changes.

I feel like whoever takes over the sequel, if they're smart, they should go this route and ultimately presume the creatures splitting off from Godzilla's tail are dead due to an incomplete and damaged evolutionary process.

Wow your thoughts and theory are amazing! I love the idea. Maybe these little buggers are not fully evolved to the other stage.

Also i thought of it and came to this idea: This Godzilla is ever evolving but maybe that these guys are his clones, maybe they will take different branches of evolution and ultimately become other kaiju. So the kaiju in the Shin-verse (if it ever happens) may have originated from this Godzilla and maybe one of his clones will take the Godzilla evolution and become the new Shin Gojira. This idea of the new Shin Gojira sounds a bit like what they did in the Heisei timeline with Godzilla Junior. So after Shin is born, he may fight his "brothers" and "sisters" or ally with them to fight humankind.

(Edit: sorry for saying "maybe" a lot XD)

As much as a hate to say it, I don't really think Toho's next live-action Godzilla film should end up being a direct sequel to Shin Godzilla. Like pretty much everyone else, I'm tired of the Millennium series formula of reboot after reboot, but in this case I think starting off in another continuity would be for the best. I feel like Shin Godzilla is just one of those unique movies destined to be a one-off thing; Anno's personal style is what made Shin Godzilla what it was, and without him returning it would be next to impossible to make a worthy sequel. I imagine Higuchi would probably be approached to direct the next live-action film whether it is a direct sequel or not.

The big plot-relevant reason I don't see it being likely for there to be a direct sequel is the ending. There have been many interpretations of the ending, but I'm tempted to interpret it as Godzilla evolving into his next form, an army of humanoid creatures in response to the group of humans that defeated him. Regardless of the interpretation, the ending implies a scenario where once Godzilla unthaws, there might be an army of smaller Godzilla-like monsters running around. While that is an interesting what-if scenario, I think it should stay as exactly that: a what-if scenario. Shin Godzilla was a unique and new take on the franchise in many ways, but it still stayed true to the basic formula and very much felt like a Godzilla film. Continuing this story could result in a movie that feels nothing like a Godzilla film at all. I'm sure once Toho decides to make a new Godzilla film, they will want to have Godzilla battle another monster again, and therefore it would be difficult to do so by continuing the storyline from Shin Godzilla.

Now I'm not saying there 100% won't be a direct sequel to the film, I'm just saying that in my mind it would be best to leave the Shin Godzilla story on an open and ambiguous ending and start a new one. Shin Godzilla works very well as a unique standalone film, and I think attempting to continue it in the absence of Anno and overriding the cryptic ending would be a disservice to it. We'll have to wait and see what Toho does, but given the film's success there is little doubt they will greenlight another live-action film soon.

^In a way I agree. I think Shin Godzilla's unique risks and structure is what sets it apart as both a successful experiment and a strong stand-alone story. However, I still think if the writers are clever there are ways around the fairly open and mostly symbolic ending--As I specified above.

Like Godzilla's heart beating at the end of GMK, I mostly view the creatures splitting out of Godzilla's tail as an artistic, symbolic visual. Not necessarily a literal moment in need of dissecting with one explanation after another.

Either way I would be fine with either route. If Shin Godzilla does get a sequel, then hurrah! If it doesn't, then at least it's an excellent and unique stand-alone effort. However, if Toho still likes to repeat history I don't think they'll ignore the $75 million+ it's made in Japan alone.

I think the comparison to the heart at the end of GMK is an apt comparison, but it's also part of my intuition against a direct sequel. The heart at the end serves a mostly symbolic purpose, but also provides an ominous open end to the story. But as we all know, the story was never continued, because that scene was never meant to be a sequel hook, just an ominous open ending. The same thing applies to the post-credits scene in Tokyo S.O.S., for which Toho even took the time to provide an illustration of the what-if scenario that could happen if the Kiryu Saga continued.

I look at the humanoids at the end of Shin Godzilla in the same way. They show that the story is not completely over and serve a symbolic purpose, but do not necessarily suggest that the story ever will be continued. In my mind, they work best to inspire viewers to just think about what they mean or to imagine various scenarios that could happen after the events of the film. If Toho felt the need to make a direct sequel, the humanoids would have to explained in some way, even if it's just showing that they are dead and not going to actually split off from Godzilla. But doing that in my mind would diminish the meaning behind the first film's ending. I have no doubt that writers would be able to work around the ending to create the sequel they want (just look at all the small retcons done to the 1954 film in the Millennium series), I'm just arguing that they shouldn't have to if they'd prefer to just start over in a new continuity instead. In my mind, the humanoids are an excellent visual with which to leave off Anno's unique standalone interpretation of the franchise.

Of course, that isn't to say Toho won't want to immediately capitalize on Shin Godzilla's success with a new film. I'm just arguing that maybe a direct sequel isn't the best route to follow. But who knows, if Toho gets a writer and director who are extremely clever and know just how to continue the story and create a solid sequel, then by all means they should.

If Shin Godzilla gets a sequel which it must due to how it ended it must have Godzilla reawaken. Godzilla will awaken and then it will go into some sort of stage where it will try to spread it's species. The movie will deal of how to stop the spread of the Godzillas. The Japanese will try to cover up the events that unfold until other cities start to report sightings of Godzilla like forms. The Japanese will then be forced to try to control the spread and do something about the epidemic. After studying Shin Godzilla compared to the smaller immature forms of Godzilla they find some sort of difference that could be key to helping destroy the Godzillas. They go on a race against the clock to prevent an apocalypse. They develop a weapon that targets the smaller forms vulnerable parts and kill the remaining groups. Meanwhile they must come to terms on how they will annihilate Shin Godzilla. Coexistence will be difficult. A complex creature must have some sort of end. In the end they find a way to keep Godzilla from reproduction by target his brain. This keeps the spread at bay. 

^concur

Pay Hideaki Anno and  Shinji Higuchi  whatever it takes to make the sequel. Otherwise I don;t think it will measure up.  I truly believe that this may be the finest Godzilla movie that will get made in my lifetime and anyone who takes over will only succumb to the impulses that have plaiged subsequent Godzilla films.

^I don't know. I think there's plenty of talent in Japan that could capitalize on the direction Shin Godzilla took with their own artistic spin.

But you're right in that we don't need what torpedoed the series before. There's only so many times we can have Godzilla fight MechaGodzilla and Mothra during a night time climax in an urban area. New monsters don't quite cut it either, especially when older monsters can easily take on similar roles.

Shin Godzilla's success had everything to do with risk, vision, deviation and yet a firm grasp on the source material. We don't need to go backwards to be sure, but I think there's talent out there that can spin Godzilla the way Anno did.

As Gman2887 and TKOM (The King Of Monsters) said, Shin Gojira is like an unique Godzilla movie made by the creativity of Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi. Yet the movie makes me think of a new era of Godzilla movies. Shin Gojira reminds me of the beloved and fan favourite Gojira 1954 the first Godzilla movie to be ever made.

Shin Gojira is like the modernized and unique 1954. It seems likely to me that Toho may repeat history in a new style. The end is symbolic, terrifying yet could open a new gate to a sequel. But if it ever happens the sequel will be in need of a risktaking and creative director like Anno.

Yes, the director certainly succeeded in leaving me bewildered and disturbed! As cool as this movie was, I'm afraid a Shin sequel would be little more than a saurian version of "Attack on Titan", which this little monster hunter could live without, thank you. Er, domo!

How would it be anything like Attack on Titan?

How might it be like Titan? I'm thinking hoardes of fifty foot tall, man-eating homogoji's preying on humanity.

Man-eating homogoji's. Hah! 

Krakenbane,
I doubt that's the route they'll take. However they get around that there would have to be a traditional looking Godzilla at the center of the film. Toho wouldn't do it otherwise. Assuming an entire sequel would be made on the concept of the film's ending alone is a bit premature.

To be brutally honest I really don't wanna see a sequel. 

^Agreed. While I don't think they should go the millennium route of reboot every movie, Shin seems too standalone. I'm sure they could do it, and maybe even turn out a great product, but it doesn't really seem like a story that NEEDS a second part. 

I mainly don't wanna see a sequel because of the fan war that was sparked from the movie.

^You mean the fan wars that spark every movie? Pft! If that's your reasoning then I absolutely want and hope for a sequel. I really don't care if some fans complain. I do care if they negatively effect the push for any artistic merit in this franchise. Not making a sequel because a few fans got their feelings hurt and started arguments is the absolute worst reason to not make a sequel for any franchise ever.

In any case--The movie is the highest grossing live action film in Japan over the last three years and it just took home seven Japanese Academy Awards including best picture. My money is on Toho chomping at the bit for a sequel.

You know what Gman. When you put it like that I do agree with you.

Assuming a sequel might be based off the film's ending might be . . . premature? Okay, I'm just responding to the way it looked like the director was taking things. Straight to Titan!

Perhaps a slightly more feasible premise could be for another, different mutant life form to emerge as a challenge to Goji. It might even force a surviving homogoji (sorry, it fits) to use its emerging intellect and work WITH humanity to ensure both species survive.

That ending left a whole range of options to play with, the first one that struck me was keeping with the Horror aspect of Shin Goji and go All Titans Attack on Japan, yo! 

Krakenbane,
Just because the film ended like it did doesn't mean it's a thread for a follow up. X-Men: Apocalypse didn't follow up with Mystique rescuing Logan in X-Men: Days of Future Past. 10 Cloverfield Lane didn't follow up with the ending of the satellite crashing down at the end of Cloverfield. In the realm of the Godzilla series, GMK didn't follow up with its open ended finale.

The ending is a very loose plot thread (if you can even call it a 'plot' thread) and a visual that was largely placed there to be symbolic. It can just as easily be written off--Or, as I mentioned in a prior post, the creatures sprouting from his tail could be dead and Godzilla's biology damaged to the point where he's stuck in his current, more traditional form.

Whatever be the case, to assume Toho would allow a movie about humanoid Godzillas running amonk instead of utilizing a more traditional Godzilla silhouette is a major miscalculation. On what planet has Toho ever allowed the franchise to go that outside the box? They're too strict to allow it. I'm amazed Anno got away with as much as he did.

Hey, whatever brings in the numbers, right?