SHIN GOJIRA (2016) Cast Announced!

"Shin Gojira," is the official title for the 2016 film.

Thanks to Gormaru Island on Facebook, we have a look at Toho's recently announced cast for Shinji Higuchi and Hideaki Anno's "Shin Gojira," which comes out Summer 2016 in Japan.

From left to right: Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, and Satomi Ishihara

The cast for the officially titled Shin Gojira include: Hiroki Hasegawa (Shikishima from Shinji Higuchi's Attack on Titan Parts 1 & 2) as the film's male lead, Yutaka Takenouchi as a character linked with the Japanese government, and Satomi Ishihara (Hange Zoe from Higuchi's Attack on Titan Parts 1 & 2) as the film's female lead, an agent for the United States.

According to Gormaru Island, Toho shed some light regarding the plot:

The story takes place in modern day Japan that is attacked, and the United States are involved within the chaos.

The inclusion of the United States into the story may be a way of attracting Western appeal for the film, ultimately leading it to a [limited?] theatrical release in the US much like Higuchi's live action Attack of Titan films.

I am personally really looking forward to seeing Shin Gojira as its director and cast promises it to be one of the strongest entries in the franchise. The film will utilize a hybrid method of practical and CG effects, a technique that had rarely been utilized in Japanese films. If it's anything remotely similar to Higuchi's work on Attack on Titan (2015,) then count me excited!