We have another update on the upcoming kaiju film, HOSHI 35 (星35), courtesy of production companies 3Y Film and MRTS, with the first teaser trailer, two new posters, and a new addition to the movie's cast.
HOSHI 35 is directed by Hiroto Yokokawa (THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL, NEZURA 1964). The movie is using traditional Japanese FX techniques (aka tokusatsu), and features a cast comprised of fan favorite genre stars. It is scheduled for release in Japan in October 2023.
The film's teaser trailer offers the first look at the long-awaited return of Godzilla Heisei Series actress Megumi Odaka. In 1987, Ms. Odaka won the second Toho Cinderella Grand Prix, an competition for aspiring actresses, and soon began acting in movies and TV shows. Her most famous role was the psychic girl Miki Saegusa, who was introduced in GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE (ゴジラＶＳビオランテ, Gojira tai Biorante, 1989) and would return in five consecutive Godzilla films through GODZILLA VS DESTOROYAH (ゴジラＶＳデストロイア, Gojira tai Desutoroia, 1995), giving Odaka the record for most appearances by the same actor as the same character in the entire Godzilla series.
Megumi Odaka retired from acting 2001, although she did appear in the 2020 NHK documentary GODZILLA'S LEADING LADIES (ゴジラとヒロイン, Gojira to Hiroin) and narrated the computer animated short film GODZILLA VS GIGAN REX (ゴジラ VS ガイガンレクス, Gojira VS Gaigan Rekusu) that premiered during Toho’s Godzilla Fest 2022 last November. HOSHI 35 marks Megumi Odaka's first onscreen appearance in a kaiju film in decades.
In additional news, rapper/comedian/comic actor Yuma (Yuma Katsumata) will appear in HOSHI 35. Fans should remember him from director Hiroto Yokokawa's THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL and NEZURA 1964.
Yuma joins a cast that includes --along with Megumi Odaka -- Jun Hashizume (GODZILLA VS SPACEGODZILLA, ULTRAMAN Z ), Daijiro Harada (GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA ll, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE), Hiroshi Miyasaka (AKIRA KUROSAWA’S DREAMS, SHALL WE DANCE?, ULTRA GALAXY FIGHT: THE DESTINED CROSSROAD), Yumiko Tanaka (MASKED RIDER SUPER-1, THE RETURN OF GODZILLA), Akihiro Ugajin (BATTLE ROYALE, GODZILLA: FINAL WARS, ULTRAMAN: THE NEXT, GAMERA THE BRAVE), Nômaru Abe (GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE, ULTRAMAN GAIA: BATTLE IN HYPERSPACE, THE SUMMER OF THE UBUME), Robert Scott Field (GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH, ULTRAMAN NEOS, THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL), Shoko Nakajima (GODZIBAN), Rin Matsumiya, Yoko Ishino (GODZILLA VS DESTOROYAH, TOKYO BLACKOUT), Yukijiro Hotaru (ZEIRAM, Gamera Trilogy, GODZILLA, MOTHRA AND KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK) and Shinzô Hotta (MASKED RIDER, THE ALL-NEW MASKED RIDER, ZATOICHI).
About 3Y Film
3Y Film is part of the video production company 3Y Co., Ltd. Founded in 2015 by Hiroto Yokokawa, 3Y has been involved with the production, filming, photography, editing and CG effects for commercials, movies, stage productions and corporate videos. The company has recently branched out into their original productions such as the feature film THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL.
Poster with Rin Matsumiya and the baby version of the monster Hoshikuzu. Photo courtesy of 3Y Film. ©3Y Film
Poster featuring Godzilla actress Megumi Odaka. Photo courtesy of 3Y Film. ©3Y Film
Baby Hoshikuzu with Yuma. Photo courtesy of 3Y Film. ©3Y Film