GODZILLA (1994): Jan De Bont's Unmade TriStar Film

[kpa]

In 1994, Sony’s TriStar Pictures hired Jan De Bont (SPEED) to direct a big budget, American version of GODZILLA. Designs for an updated Godzilla and additional creatures were created; storyboards were drawn; sets and locations were selected; a production team assembled... and then everything fell apart, supposedly over a budget dispute between the studio and director. TriStar next offered GODZILLA to Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, who disappointed moviegoers with their own take in 1998.

SciFi Japan is pleased to present a detailed, 4 part overview of Jan De Bont’s GODZILLA, with production info, photos and concept art -- many never-before-seen -- storyboards and interviews with more than two dozen people who worked on the project. Starting today, a new chapter will be released each Sunday through the end of May.

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2015 ... lm-part-1/

[canofhumdingers]

Cool! I've always wondered about what really was planned and what happened to it. I've never found more than the handful of common pictures and vague generalizations. Excited to read this series!

[kiryugoji04]

Terry Gilliam was considered to direct.

Excuse me while I go drink my sorrows away.

[tbeasley]

I remember Mr. Aiken talking about a big G94 article over at Toho Kingdom years ago so it's great to finally see this coming to fruition.

[Gentleman]

I bought that script at a con years and years ago. Not bad, if I remember, but I seem to recall thinking that Big G was a little bit too heroic. Like Showa Gamera heroic. I much prefer anti-hero Godzilla. I like the WIP Godzilla model they were working on, though. Rather generic, but still nice.

[GFan]

Great read! Can't wait for the next installments.

[daikaijusaurus]

Thank you for the great article! For years I've wondered and imagine what this movie would've been like if it was actually made. Highly looking forward to next installments.

Ive always loved the Stan Winston maquette, it was a perfect image of what an actual "classic Godzilla" would've looked like if it was a real creature. As much as I loved the Godzilla 2014 design, I still would've so loved to see Stan Winston's design come to life.

I also love the below maquette! I wish it was it was in my house


BTW when is Todd Tennent's graphic novel going to be finished? Hasn't he been working on this thing for years? If it ever gets finished and released I'd grab it in a heart beat!

[kpa]

[XvGojira]

[Jorzilla]

In Steve Ryfle's book he mentions that King Ghidorah was originally considered for the primary villain.

A monster that arrives on earth in an asteroid that absorbs the powers of a bat, snake and puma = describes KG pretty accurately. Will this series help verify that detail?

[kpa]

[Shokara]

To Keith and the rest at the head of SciFiJapan, well done! The most I've ever read about this project was Steve Ryfle's previously mentioned book Japan's Favorite Mon-Star, a somewhat lengthy article in G-Fan Magazine showing a number of design maquettes and concept art, and Ted Elliot's and Terry Rosio's screenplay. It's been a real treat learning about the original executive dealings and talent wrangling. I especially can't wait to read the words from the would be director Jan de Bont himself. You guys deserve a slow applause for securing that interview. I'll be looking very forward to reading the next parts of this giant monster of an article in the next coming weeks.

[Gargantuan Gargantua]

Can't wait for Part 2. I am super curious.

[Kailem]

That was a really great article! I'd heard the basic premise of the film before and seen a few images of storyboards and models of Godzilla and the Probe Bats, but I never knew the Gryphon had a maquette made as well! That's really cool. This is all way more in-depth than anything I've seen about the movie before now.

I love reading/hearing detailed accounts of the behind-the-scenes goings-on and the making of films (the more detailed, the better), whether they actually ended up being released or not, so this was a really great read. I kept reading a lot of the text with a sort of documentary-style narration in my head, because it really feels like the kind of thing you'd find on a four-disc uber-deluxe version of a Godzilla movie Blu-ray or DVD at some point (if it was in film-form and not text, anyway ). Really excellent stuff, and I can't wait to read the upcoming parts!

[Gwangi]

What an utterly fascinating read! One could say that the villain of this first piece was Mike Medavoy.

How times have changed as I recall, we got any news on this production from publications (magazines, newspapers) or from shows like "Entertainment Tonight" before that program went tabloid. Any sci-fi magazines, I would end up scouring for titbits! Now of course, technology has changed everything, and any news we got for "G14" came from here, IMDB or other sites. Scanning through publications is now a thing of the past.

[lhb412]

This is an incredible bit of kaiju journalism. Kudos to all of y'all at Sci-Fi Japan for making this happen.

[Mac]

Thank you for this highly informative, researched article.

[Jared]

As usual with SFJ, this looks like it will be the definitive work on the topic. Excellent stuff, Keith.

[kpa]

Part 2 is now on SciFi Japan, featuring new interviews with director Jan De Bont; production designer Joseph Nemec III; special effects supervisor Boyd Shermis; screenwriter Terry Rossio; concept artists Carlos Huante, Mark “Crash” McCreery, and Ricardo Delgado; and storyboard artists David Russell and Giacomo Ghiazza.

Accompanying the filmmakers’ recollections are never-before-seen photos, concept artwork and 435 PAGES of storyboards from the movie!

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2015 ... rt-2-of-4/

[mbozzo]

I read the plot to this unmade movie on G-Fan, years ago. I believe that it should have been split into 2 movies. The first movie should be a Godzilla solo in which the army tried to kill him, while the second movie be about his battle with this winged feline monster.

[lhb412]

Whoa, that really is a Kirby-esque alien!

[GFan]

Despite Godzilla's origin being changed to GAMERA GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE, I think this movie would have been epic as hell if it had gotten made. Those storyboards are incredible! Can't wait for part III!

[kpa]

Part 3 is now on SciFi Japan, offering a look at the final stages of pre-production, the film’s digital effects, the incredible creature design work done by Stan Winston Studio, and the untold story behind the project’s cancellation!

Featuring new interviews with director Jan De Bont and Winston artists Mark “Crash” McCreery, Joey Orosco, Mark Maitre, Bruce Fuller and David Monzingo, this article includes an amazing selection of never-before-seen visuals including early pre-viz video of Godzilla’s attack on the Golden Gate Bridge, photos of set designs, new Godzilla maquette pics, and the first look at Winston Studio’s designs for the Gryphon!

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2015 ... rt-3-of-4/

[Henry88]

[lhb412]

These articles have almost been like getting an extra Godzilla movie.