Godzilla, while often depicted as the central protagonist or antagonist in films, has not always been the focal point intended by writers and directors. Spanning an impressive seven decades, this iconic monster has taken on various roles, including that of a hero, villain, anti-hero, and even an unwitting pawn manipulated by both heroes and adversaries alike.
Regardless of the narrative twists, Godzilla consistently emerges as a key attraction, frequently serving as the biggest draw of the film alongside his numerous allies. This phenomenon is evident even when his name does not explicitly grace the movie’s title. Such instances indicate the extent of transformation that certain projects underwent in order to reach fruition. Notably, three films, originally developed around different monsters, had to incorporate Godzilla to gain momentum and make it to theaters.
King Kong vs. Godzilla
Original Version – Godzilla vs. Frankenstein
One of the most significant shifts in film history occurred with the launch of the legendary rivalry between Godzilla and King Kong. Initially, the storyline envisioned King Kong facing off against a gargantuan version of Frankenstein’s Monster, a concept presented by Willis O’Brien, the creator of King Kong, in 1958. In that original draft, King Kong’s mission was to rescue San Francisco from Prometheus—a monster controlled by an evil scientist.
This concept eventually landed in the hands of producer John Beck, who struggled to get Hollywood on board. Having faced rejection from various studios, Beck turned to Toho, known for its monster films. Toho agreed to finance the project but replaced Prometheus with their star creature, Godzilla. While the result—King Kong vs. Godzilla—differs greatly from its predecessor’s narrative, it owes its existence to the initial idea of King Kong battling Prometheus.
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
Original Version – Operation Robinson Crusoe: King Kong vs. Ebirah
The 1966 film, Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, features an epic confrontation between Godzilla and the lobster-like kaiju Ebirah, amidst battles against the antagonistic Red Bamboo. The story also introduces Mothra, who comes to the rescue after Godzilla triumphs over Ebirah. However, this epic showdown nearly starred King Kong instead of Godzilla, as early drafts had envisioned the ape taking on Ebirah and the Red Bamboo.
Though the project titled Operation Robinson Crusoe: King Kong vs. Ebirah never materialized, King Kong ultimately starred in a subsequent Toho film, King Kong Escapes, released in 1967, where he battles Mechani-Kong and Gorosaurus. Before this, Toho aimed to utilize the King Kong suit from previous films for a solo venture, collaborating with Rankin-Bass, who held the rights to King Kong at the time. However, when Rankin-Bass declined the project, Toho pivoted to feature Godzilla instead, leading to significant narrative alterations. Interestingly, remnants of King Kong’s influence remain in the final product, such as Godzilla’s electrical powers—an ability associated with King Kong in Toho’s adaptations.
Godzilla vs. Mothra
Original Version – Mothra vs. Bagan
During the early 1990s, Toho envisioned an ambitious four-part film series involving Godzilla, Mothra, and a new monster—Bagan. This project was intended to kick off with Mothra vs. Bagan, laying the foundation for a sequel that would showcase Godzilla battling Bagan. In this initial story, the lore suggested that Mothra and Bagan had clashed in ancient times, and in the modern era, it would be up to Mothra to face off against the resurrected Bagan.
However, due to apprehensions regarding the box office potential of a film without Godzilla, Toho scrapped this original concept. Yet, fragments of the storyline persisted, eventually evolving into Godzilla vs. Mothra. Key narrative elements and characters from Mothra vs. Bagan were integrated into the 1992 film, with Bagan being replaced by Battra, a creature crafted as a rival to Mothra. This rescript transformation shifted the narrative from a duel between two foes to a more chaotic three-way conflict, with Godzilla inadvertently entering the fray.
Leave a Reply