Exclusive! Funimation Licenses GODZILLA RESURGENCE

US Theatrical Release Planned for Late 2016
Author: Keith Aiken
Source: Toho Co., Ltd., Funimation Entertainment
Official Site: shin-godzilla.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Scott Barretto

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Co., Ltd. has revealed to SciFi Japan that they have licensed GODZILLA RESURGENCE (Shin Gojira) to Funimation Entertainment, with the American distributor gaining the theatrical, home entertainment, video on demand and broadcast rights for North America, Central America and South America.

Funimation has confirmed, and added that they are making a public announcement about the acquisition this evening during their Industry Panel at San Diego Comic-Con International. An official press release with additional details will go out to media outlets tomorrow.

Co-directed by Hideaki Anno (EVANGELION) and Shinji Higuchi (Gamera Trilogy, ATTACK ON TITAN), GODZILLA RESURGENCE is the twenty-ninth Japanese Godzilla produced by Toho, and the first since the 50th anniversary production GODZILLA: FINAL WARS (2004). Toho will release the movie in Japan on July 29, 2016.

Fan speculation -- and confusion -- regarding a possible US release for GODZILLA RESURGENCE surged earlier this year following an announcement from New York film broker New World Cinemas claiming they had acquired the movie for North America. After promoting RESURGENCE on their website and social media New World suddenly backpedaled, stating that they never had the film rights and were simply "big fans" of Godzilla.

GODZILLA RESURGENCE is in much better hands with Funimation, a company with a proven track record of quality releases. While primarily known for anime, the Texas-based distributor has also handled live-action Japanese titles including Higuchi`s ATTACK ON TITAN films and the RUROUNI KENSHIN trilogy. Plans call for GODZILLA RESURGENCE to be released in late 2016, exact dates TBA.

About Toho Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1932 and headquartered in Tokyo, Toho Company, Ltd. is one of the leading entertainment conglomerates in Japan. Toho is best known worldwide as the producer of twenty-nine Godzilla motion pictures, based upon a character the company unleashed on the world back in 1954, and masterpiece films directed by Akira Kurosawa. Toho has been the number one distributor of motion pictures in Japan for twelve consecutive years since 2003. The company is also, throughout Japan, the leading producer of theatrical works and one of the largest owners of office buildings and theaters.

About Funimation Films

Funimation Films, the theatrical division of Funimation Entertainment, acquires both anime and live action movies from prominent international filmmakers that appeal to the interests and passion of all types of fans and distributes them throughout North America. The division was launched in December 2014 following the box office success of DRAGON BALL Z: BATTLE OF GODS that same year. Funimation Films released DRAGON BALL Z: RESURRECTION `F` a year later and which became #9 highest-grossing anime movie in North America. Funimation Entertainment is a subsidiary of Group 1200 Media, a fully integrated, next-generation, independent entertainment studio based in Dallas. For more information on Funimation Films, visit funimationfilms.com.

For more information on GODZILLA RESURGENCE, please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: