Godzilla Minus One is currently the talk of the town and director Takashi Yamazaki is taking this moment to let it be known that he has an ambitious desire to direct a beloved, Western IP.
Speaking to /Film, Yamazaki shared that he would really like to take the reigns on a Star Wars film.
"I watched Star Wars, and that's how I ended up being a filmmaker. I'm really hoping I will get a call and they will bring me on Star Wars."
He went on to explain, "I think a more Japanese or even just Eastern take on Star Wars, would be really, really interesting, so I hope they call me up."
With the franchise now expanding into television as well thanks to Disney+, it's not hard to imagine Lucasfilm creating an opportunity for Yamazaki.
And as he righlty pointed out, a film that's told through the lens of Japanese sensibilities might be just the reinvigorating spark the cinematc side of the franchise needs.
Currently, Minus One opened in Western theaters this past weekend to the tune of $11 million, making it the biggest North American opening ever for a live-action Japanese film. Of course, a few anime movies have made more money than this, but Minus One, which has already brought in $23 million in Japan, has accomplished a remarkable feat. Especially considering the fact that the production of the movie only cost $15 million.
Godzilla Minus One is directed and written by Takashi Yamazaki (Lupin III The First, Dragon Quest: Your Story). It stars Ryunosuke Kamiki as Kōichi Shikishima, Minami Hamabe as Noriko Ōishi, Yuki Yamada as Shirō Mizushima, Munetaka Aoki as Sōsaku Tachibana, and Hidetaka Yoshioka as Kenji Noda.
The official synopsis for the film reads, "In the final days of World War II, a small group of Japanese soldiers encounter a dinosaur-like creature on a remote island and are massacred—leaving only two survivors. Two years later, the creature, now many times its original size and capable of shooting thermonuclear breath, appears and begins attacking ships off the coast of Japan—moving ever closer to the still-devastated, post-war Japanese mainland."
Do you think Kathleen Kennedy and newly appointed Chief Creative Office Dave Filoni should reach out to Yamazaki? Even if there's no current opportunity to direct a film, perhaps he could helm an episode or two of The Mandalorian or Ashoka season?
The popularity of Star Wars: Visions- a collection of animated shorts created by some of the greatest anime directors in the world, honoring the Star Wars mythos, proves that Japanese culture and Star Wars is a winning combination.