Ken Watanabe Joins 'Godzilla' As Production Starts, Juliette Binoche Confirmed

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by Kevin Jagernauth
March 18, 2013 2:29 PM
5 Comments

...and just like that, Warner Bros. has announced that production has started today on "Godzilla," with the studio, filmmakers and everyone else keeping a tight lock and seal over details or anything else concerning the production. But the press release did offer up a couple more eyebrow raising bits of casting for a monster movie that seems to be following the "Pacific Rim" playbook to a certain degree.

Japanese actor Ken Watanabe ("Inception," "Letters From Iwo Jima") has come aboard, while French actress Juliette Binoche is indeed confirmed, making her first steps in a Hollywood blockbuster. Either this is one helluva script, or Binoche need to pay some bills. With the rest of the cast including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston and David Strathairn, like Guillermo Del Toro's monster movie, it's taking an ensemble approach without an A-list, bankable star. We'd wager the studio is hoping to sell the movie on spectacle, or either that, Binoche fans are gonna come in droves and see this twenty times each in theaters.

Gareth Edwards makes the leap from "Monsters" to his mega studio debut, with the movie expected to be in 3D. "Godzilla" will wreak havoc on May 16, 2014, but following last year's crowd-pleasing Comic-Con sizzle reel, could WB have a secret up their sleeves for San Diego this year as well? [via STYD]

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More: Godzilla, Ken Watanabe, Juliette Binoche

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Arch | March 19, 2013 8:32 AMReply

Since Frank Darabont worked on it, it may be one helluva script. The guy proved he can write great ensemble-cast-material (mostly with The Mist). Beside it's an interesting cast. Maybe they'll try a more dramatic approach... maybe.

So hopefully Binoche won't pull a Jean Reno (and since french nuclear tests in the pacific are forgotten by most, at least chances are we won't have the Marseillaise during the opening !).
PEDRO | March 18, 2013 11:24 PMReply

My God! Has Juliette Binoche lost her mind? What is she doing in that blockbuster? Can't understand her. She rejects working with Spielberg on "Jurassic Park", but accepts this?
Mark | March 18, 2013 3:47 PMReply

Can't wait
Rex | March 18, 2013 3:44 PMReply

So Binoche is the new Kidman ? Next thing you know she'll be seen in a big screen adaptation of The Nanny with Jonah Hill.
Liam | March 18, 2013 2:35 PMReply

"Either this is one helluva script, or Binoche need to pay some bills."
That's funny! Hope it's all about the script, fingers crossed!