In a move that sees Toho expanding their power overseas, the studio behind Godzilla will co-finance content of their property with Hollywood and China. Starting in 2019, Toho will implement a three year plan to bankroll $135 million into foreign studios producing their properties. These assets include a live action remake of Your name., Pokemon and, of course, Godzilla.
Nikkei reports that Toho plans to fund a quarter of each project to reap more from the box office and have more creative control:
Toho has had limited involvement in overseas movie production before, notably in Hollywood versions of its well-known monster movie. As a co-producer, it will invest up to 25% of production costs in each project, entitling it to a bigger share of revenue for successful content than just collecting royalties.
Toho will also manage the rights of creators and ensure that their ideas are reflected in the works. The studio also plans to act as broker between other Japanese studios and overseas counterparts in the future.
Seeing as Toho's plan does not go into effect until 2019, it seems unlikely that this plan includes the upcoming Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) and Godzilla vs. Kong (2020).
So what does this mean for the Godzilla franchise after 2020? Will the MonsterVerse continue to thrive with Toho co-funding Legendary's productions and having greater creative control over their projects? Will they continue to produce Godzilla movies on their own, ala, Shin Godzilla (2016)? It's too early to say officially, so may the speculation begin.
Toho Animation and Polygon's Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters will arrive on Netflix January 17th, 2018. The sequel, Godzilla: Decisive Battle, Mobile Breeder City will hit Japanese theaters May, 2018.
Legendary Pictures and Warner Brothers' Godzilla: King of the Monsters will be released March 22nd, 2019 and its sequel, Godzilla vs. Kong will open in May 22nd, 2020.
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Source:
Nikkei Asian Review
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