Despite being one of the most popular monsters in theGodzillauniverse, Rodan has never been his main opponent for him in a movie. It’s true that Rodan is one ofGodzilla’s closest allies, but it’s important to note that the other two major heroes in the franchise have had their turn as the primary foe to Godzilla in a film.Anguirus filled this role inGodzilla Raids Againand Mothra held it twice, both inGodzilla vs. MothraandMothra vs. Godzilla.
Since both Mothra and Anguirus have been utilized in versus-themed Godzilla stories, it’s worth wondering why Rodan was never utilized in a greater capacity. Across all of his appearances in the franchise, he’s never been more than a co-star or a supporting player. There’s always been plenty of potential for compelling action when it comes to a possibleGodzilla vs. Rodanmovie, but Toho apparently had other priorities. However, that’s not to say the idea was never in play. From the looks of things, aGodzilla vs. Rodanmovie may have been under serious consideration.
An Unmade King Kong vs. Godzilla Sequel Would Have Set Up Godzilla vs. Rodan
Plans for an unmade Godzilla-King Kong crossover indicate that Toho may have been eyeingGodzilla vs. Rodanfor a mid-1960s release. After makingKing Kong vs. Godzilla, Toho intended to make a sequel that would involve a rematch between the two rivals. The screenplay for the film, titledContinuation: King Kong vs. Godzilla, reveals that at the end, both Godzilla and King Kong would have found themselves trapped inside Mount Aso after a volcanic eruption. What makes this so interesting is the fact that Mount Aso is central to the story of Rodan in his 1956 movie.
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A scene in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire served as a fitting tribute to Godzilla’s first-ever monster team-up, which dates back 60 years.
InRodan, Mount Aso is the volcano where the male and female versions of Rodan reside. With that in mind,the canceledKing Kong vs. Godzillasequelputting both monsters in the same location does indeed raise the possibility that Toho was setting the stage forGodzilla vs. Rodan. Taking this route does make sense, considering that as a Toho property, Rodan was an in-house kaiju and would therefore have been an appealing option for aGodzillaversus movie. As for why Toho didn’t go down that road, it’s likely that the concept became unnecessary.
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster Made Godzilla vs. Rodan Unncessary
Rodan Was Reintroduced As A Godzilla Ally
Rather than make theKing Kong vs. Godzillasequel, Toho producedMothra vs. Godzillainstead. It then followed up withKing Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster,which teamed Godzilla with Rodan and Mothra against the titular villain. This particular film helps explain the logic behind Toho not pursuing aGodzilla vs. Rodanmovie in the Showa era. Before sending the trio off to fight Ghidorah, the 1964 film featured a fight between Godzilla and Rodan. Because of that, audiences had already seen what that matchup had to offer, perhaps detracting from Toho’s prospective interest in giving the fight the full-length treatment in the following years.
Rodan and Godzilla have come to blows on three occasions:Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster,Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, andGodzilla: Final Wars.
This move also redefined Rodan as a Godzilla ally in the Showa era and the latter as a hero. OnceGhidorah, the Three-Headed Monsterreleased, there was little narrative reason to reverse their dynamic. Rather, the franchise doubled down, keeping them on the same side inInvasion of Astro MonsterandDestroy All Monsters.Had he not appeared inGhidorah, the Three-Headed Monster,whichestablished them as friends,Godzilla vs. Rodanmay have happened at some point down the line. Due to Rodan’s flying ability, he could have been a challenging antagonist for the better part of a movie.
Toho Identified Rodan As A Top Candidate For A Godzilla Villain, But Still Didn’t Use Him
Rodan Was A Highly Requested Option For A Future Godzilla Villain
It’s possible that the same explanation can also be applied to aGodzilla vs. Rodanbeing avoided in the rebooted franchise as well. According toThe Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: The Lost Filmsby John LeMay, Toho conducted a poll in the 1990s to see which kaiju were the most desired opponents. The top four answers to this question were Mechagodzilla, Rodan, Mothra, and Ghidorah. Of those four, only Rodan didn’t wind up as the focus of a Godzilla versus movie in the Heisei era. As the book explains, Toho’s plans forGodzilla vs. Mechagodzilla IImay be why that was the case.
This Cancelled Godzilla Team-Up From 52 Years Ago Reveals The Perfect Idea For Rodan’s Return
The script for a Godzilla movie Toho cancelled 52 years ago provides the perfect blueprint for Rodan’s long-awaited return to the Monsterverse.
Not unlikeGhidorah, the Three-Headed Monster,Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla IIpit Godzilla and Rodan against each otherbefore having them share a common enemy. In doing so,Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla IIeffectively fulfilled two of the wishes expressed by the poll results. And with all the movies in the Heisei era sharing the same timeline, Rodan was taken off the table for the rest of the series, considering that the movie’s ending killed him off.
How A Godzilla vs. Rodan Movie Could Have Worked
Rodan Could Have Been A Hard Target For Godzilla
As for what would have transpired if a conflict between Rodan and Godzilla had been expanded to fill a whole movie, it’s not abundantly clear what that would have entailed. As previously noted, the fighting likely would have emphasized Rodan’s flying. The damage wrought by the force of the winds created by his wings in the 1956 movie, for instance, could have been used as a highly potent weapon against Godzilla. That, combined with his ability to take to the sky, would have made him hard for Godzilla to bring down. This challenge could have been the primary obstacle for Godzilla to overcome in their fights.
…there are limits to how far the movie could go with a misunderstanding or just a simple clash of egos
Story-wise,Godzilla vs. Rodancould have been more complicated to make work. With both of their one-on-one showdowns,there’s a sense that there wasn’t enough there to justify more focus on their conflict. Neither are true villains, so there are limits to how far the movie could go with a misunderstanding or just a simple clash of egos. That notion could have contributed to Toho prioritizing other monsters for versus movies and ultimately keeping Rodan as a supporting monster only. Given that this is where he excels, that move was possibly for the best.
Godzilla
The Godzilla franchise, spanning over six decades, follows the adventures of the titular kaiju, a colossal, prehistoric sea monster awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation. Originating in Japan, Godzilla has evolved from a destructive force of nature to a protector of humanity, battling various other giant monsters, including iconic foes like King Ghidorah, Mothra, and Mechagodzilla. The series explores themes of environmental destruction, nuclear anxiety, and human resilience. With numerous films, TV series, and an expanding universe, Godzilla remains a cultural icon, captivating audiences worldwide with its epic battles and compelling narratives.
