Movies

6 Godzilla Monsters That Almost Starred in Their Own Movies!

BBG News

Godzilla could be considered the Monster King, but he certainly isn’t alone in his universe; there are numerous other kaiju that share his domain and have even starred in their own films at times. Throughout the various Godzilla movies, there is a diverse array of enemies and temporary allies for Godzilla, some of which almost had their own dedicated stories that could have given them recognition beyond Godzilla’s towering presence. Over time, certain colossal creatures have come close to receiving their own movies, allowing them to establish themselves more prominently apart from Big G’s dominance.

It’s interesting to point out that certain creatures often linked with Godzilla initially appeared in standalone films, such as Mothra and Fire Rodan, who had successful solo giant monster movies before joining the universe of Godzilla. Regrettably, some proposed Godzilla movies might have provided a richer history or more independent storylines for these titans, but unfortunately, they were never made, following in the footsteps of many other Toho kaiju films that didn’t reach fruition before and after this time. It’s unfortunate these monster movies weren’t given an opportunity to explore Godzilla’s lesser-known companions more extensively.

6. Ebirah

Operation Robinson Crusoe: King Kong vs. Ebirah

As a die-hard film fan, I can’t help but marvel at the timeless collaboration between the legendary Godzilla and King Kong. Over the years, their films have crafted an impressive collection of tales, many of which were masterfully produced by Toho themselves. For instance, in the captivating saga of King Kong Escapes, we see King Kong pitted against his own formidable adversary, Mechani-Kong. Another film even set the stage for what would eventually become a Godzilla foe, introducing the ominous Ebirah. Originally planned to debut in the proposed Operation Robinson Crusoe: King Kong vs. Ebirah, this menacing creature was destined to create quite a stir!

King Kong vs. Ebirah” but swapped Kong for Godzilla. Ebirah made minor appearances in “All Monsters Attack” and “Godzilla: Final Wars,” but never received top billing again. It’s unfortunate that he didn’t get the chance to share the limelight with King Kong.

5. Jet Jaguar

Jet Jaguar vs. Megalon

Among the standout noble characters in Godzilla’s history, Jet Jaguar is undeniably one of the friendliest and most humanitarian companions that Godzilla has ever been paired with on screen. This robot superhero, reminiscent of Tokusatsu heroes like Ultraman, is renowned for his bright smile and dramatic poses. Interestingly, Jet Jaguar was born from a fan contest held by Toho, aiming to create a new monster that tapped into the popularity of giant robot media during that time. His abilities encompass flight, shrinking, growing, and emitting laser beams.

Initially, Jet Jaguar was intended to fight against the subterranean bug-like monster Megalon in “Jet Jaguar vs. Megalon”. However, Toho felt that Jet Jaguar might not be strong enough as a character to hold a film on his own, so they changed the title to “Godzilla vs. Megalon”, transforming the battle into a team competition with Godzilla and Jet Jaguar against Megalon and Gigan. Although “Godzilla vs. Megalon” is an excellent movie, it’s intriguing to imagine how Jet Jaguar’s story might have evolved if he had his own standalone film.

4. Mothra

Mothra vs Bagan

Remarkably, Mothra stands out among Toho monsters as one who has already starred in her own standalone film, apart from the renowned Godzilla. Intriguingly, her origin traces back to literature, debuting in the 1961 novel “The Luminous Fairies and Mothra,” which was swiftly followed by the film “Mothra” shortly after its publication. Later on, the benevolent moth deity even got a dedicated series with the “Rebirth of Mothra” trilogy, leveraging her popularity as Toho’s second-most-famous kaiju.

The proposed movie “Mothra versus Bagan” was set to increase Mothra’s filmography, but it was ultimately cancelled. This film intended for Mothra to confront the ancient Chinese demon Bagan, a character originally conceived for another abandoned project titled “Resurrection of Godzilla”. In this movie, Mothra was expected to join forces with one of her larval forms, highlighting her compassionate nature in contrast to Godzilla’s. Unfortunately, the film didn’t proceed due to the disappointing box office results of “Godzilla vs. Biollante”, and Bagan never made it into another movie.

3. Hedorah

Hedorah vs Midora

It’s surprising that the smog monster Hedorah, who left off with a suspenseful ending hinting at a return in the film “Godzilla vs Hedorah“, didn’t have a standalone sequel. Hedorah is an extraterrestrial life form that arrived on Earth as a comet and thrived on human pollution, transforming into a grotesque, shuffling mound of filth capable of changing into a flying UFO shape. Although the proposed “Godzilla vs Hedorah 2” was never made, Hedorah has appeared in ensemble films such as “Godzilla: Final Wars” and “Godzilla Island“.

One of Godzilla’s more endearing antagonists, Hedorah, nearly had the opportunity to star in a film titled “Hedorah vs Midora.” Director Yoshimitsu Banno held a deep affection for Hedorah, envisioning a narrative where this nuclear-revived sludge monster faced off against a new plant-like kaiju named Midora, who was heroic. A young girl and her pet slug were also crucial elements of the storyline. Sadly, Banno passed away before he could bring to life his plans for the unsightly yet adorable slime creature.

2. King Ghidorah

Untitled King Ghidorah film

Among Godzilla’s many adversaries, King Ghidorah stands out as his most famous and enduring enemy. The conflict between Godzilla and King Ghidorah dates back to the monster’s debut in the 1964 film “Ghidroah, the Three-Headed Monster“, where he was first portrayed as a formidable golden dragon, a terrifying force to contend with and an alien conqueror. Throughout different movies, his backstory has been revised and refined, occasionally depicting him as a monster genetically engineered from three creatures by time-travelers or a space mutant.

1999 saw Toho contemplating a standalone movie for King Ghidorah, as suggested by special effects director Koichi Kawakita in an interview from 1995. Despite the confirmation of its development, no specific details about this film have surfaced, such as which origin story for King Ghidorah they might have chosen to pursue. Among Godzilla’s adversaries, King Ghidorah is undoubtedly worthy of a solo film.

1. Kiryu

Type-3 Kiryu

Throughout the years, several versions of Mechagodzilla have been introduced, but none compare to the thrilling and iconic Kiryu from the Millennium series. Debuting in 2002’s “Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla”, Kiryu is a cybernetic being constructed using the skeleton of the original 1954 Godzilla, with its hidden consciousness eventually taking over from its human operator and causing destruction. Following his second appearance in “Godzilla: Tokyo SOS”, plans for a standalone film titled “Type-3 Kiryu” were proposed.

The standalone film featuring the character known as Kiryu, derived from his military designation Multipurpose Fighting System Type-3, remains enveloped in intrigue. It might have resurrected him from the ocean depths following his selfless act to spare his biological twin in Godzilla: Tokyo SOS, or it could have introduced an entirely new origin story for this mechanical monster. Regardless of the specifics, Type-3 Kiryu represents a significant missed opportunity within the unreleased Godzilla movie series.

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2025-05-22 14:58

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