Background and Trivia |
- Toho submitted the film to the US copyright office on December 12th, 1999 with the registration number of PA0000967584. The title used was its international one, Godzilla 2000 Millennium, with no alternate listed on the registration.
- Although nothing is stated in the movie to give the impression, Godzilla 2000: Millennium is connected through canon with Godzilla (1954). This means the events of the original Godzilla movie occured in this film's timeline. This fact is mentioned in the publication New Godzilla Walker - The New Legend of the King of the Monsters (ISBN: 9784048956321).
- In a 1996 interview with Koichi Kawakita on Rebirth of Mothra (1996), the special effects director notes that Toho didn't plan to make another Godzilla film "until 2000" and that in the interim it made sense to make films featuring Mothra and King Ghidorah. While more of an off the cuff remark, it's one of the earlier statements hinting at Toho making Godzilla films again toward the turn of the century. Noted in Special Graphix Mothra (ISBN T1065429731804).
- When producer Shogo Tomiyama was asked about Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) originally supposed to be the last Japanese Godzilla film of the 20th century, he admitted that was originally correct. He admitted further that the idea to create Godzilla 2000: Millennium was "made abruptly". In fact, previously there had been no plans to create another Godzilla film until 2005. This change in plan came about because of GODZILLA (1998) and feeling that after seeing the movie they "couldn't keep silent until 2005". Noted in issue #40 of G-Fan.
- When asked by Variety, a Toho spokesman mentioned in relation to the 1999 movie that "Sony Pictures has asked us not to make our own version of 'Godzilla,' but there is no contractual relationship barring us from bringing back the Toho version of Godzilla." He went on to say that "the TriStar 'Godzilla' was a big hit, but we received numerous complaints from fans saying that they did not like the touches put on the monster for its move to America. We do not want to lose the diehard Godzilla fans." It's worth noting that, at this time, Sony was still planning to make a follow up to GODZILLA (1998).
- During pre-production, where producer Shogo Tomiyama announced the movie would begin filming on July 10th, it was stated that they wanted to produce this movie as a trilogy in a "different world, unconnected to the previous films." The comment is vague on if the Millennium series was originally supposed to feature continuity or not between its entries. Either way, the concept of this being a trilogy undershot how long the Millennium series ran for. Cited in issue #40 of G-Fan, which was printed in 1999.
- Producer Shogo Tomiyama stated that the target audience for this film were people in their thirties. This quote is seen in issue #40 of G-Fan.
- An exact figure was not given, but it was noted in the Los Angeles Times that Sony picked up the North American distribution rights for the 1999 movie for "under $500,000" from Toho. The article went on to note that Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992), Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993), Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994) and Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) were picked up for "around $500,000 each". This makes it seem like the first Millennium film was sold for less than the 1990's Heisei series entries. However, more likely they were sold for around the same amount in yen and conversion rates fluctuated. Of the films and of their decision to give Godzilla 2000 a larger release, Sony's distribution chief Jeff Blake noted that of selling the 1990's films that "this business has been profitable for us" and that the seven titles released have collectively sold more than 400,000 units. Given the number of titles, it's possible that Rebirth of Mothra (1996) and Rebirth of Mothra II (1997) were included in this figure.
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