Takashi Yamazaki directs new 20th Century Studios film "Nue
Ridley Scott's production company Scott Free is teaming up with 20th Century Studios to bring a bold new project to life, and the name attached to direct it is one that should immediately catch your attention. Takashi Yamazaki, the Japanese filmmaker behind the 2023 phenomenon Godzilla Minus One, has officially been announced as the director of a new original film titled Nue. The announcement landed on July 7, 2026, and we have been following its ripple effects closely ever since.
Takashi Yamazaki and "Nue" : what we know about the project
Nue is described as an entirely original sci-fi concept centered on something hidden deep in the ocean. That's essentially all the studio has disclosed about the plot. No cast has been confirmed, no release window has been shared, and it remains unclear whether the film will get a theatrical run or land directly on a streaming platform like Hulu or Disney+. For those of us who track what ends up on Disney+ and its streaming counterparts, that last detail matters quite a bit.
What we do know is that the production team behind Nue is far from lightweight. Here is a breakdown of the key figures involved :
- Ridley Scott (Scott Free) and Michael Pruss as producers
- Keiichiro Moriya and Go Abe from Robot Communications
- Georgina Pope from Toho-Tombo
- Amie Horiuchi as producer
- Scott Aversano overseeing the project for 20th Century Studios
The involvement of Toho-Tombo, the international co-production arm of Toho, the Japanese studio that distributed Godzilla Minus One, adds an interesting layer to the collaboration. Scott Free, meanwhile, has a long-standing relationship with 20th Century Studios, having previously partnered on the Alien franchise. Bringing these two production forces together under Yamazaki's direction signals that Nue is not a small-scale bet.
Yamazaki himself spoke about the project with clear conviction : "Nue has been a lifelong dream of mine. I am honored to have the opportunity to make it happen with the creative brilliance of Ridley Scott and Scott Free and the fantastic team at 20th Century Studios." That kind of personal investment from a filmmaker tends to translate on screen, something Godzilla Minus One proved without question.
Why this partnership makes sense for 20th Century Studios
Godzilla Minus One earned over $115 million at the North American box office alone, a staggering figure for a Japanese-language film produced on a reported budget of around $15 million. That ratio is the kind of result that makes studio executives sit up straight. David Greenbaum, president of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios, summed it up directly : "What he achieved with Godzilla Minus One was extraordinary, combining spectacle with deeply emotional storytelling."
Ridley Scott was equally direct in his enthusiasm. "We've long admired Takashi's visionary and skillful story-telling", he said, framing the collaboration as something built on genuine artistic respect rather than just commercial logic.
| Film | Director | Studio | North American box office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Godzilla Minus One | Takashi Yamazaki | Toho / ROBOT | $115M+ |
| Nue (upcoming) | Takashi Yamazaki | 20th Century Studios / Scott Free | TBD |
The connection between Japanese talent and major Western streaming or theatrical distribution is becoming increasingly relevant. Disney+ recently signed an exclusive content deal with Japan's The Seven, signaling a broader strategic push toward Japanese creative partnerships. Nue fits neatly into that broader pattern, even if it was developed through a different pipeline.
What "Nue" could mean for streaming audiences
The question we keep circling back to is simple : where will you actually be able to watch Nue when it releases ? No platform or release format has been confirmed. Given that 20th Century Studios sits under the Disney umbrella, the most logical destination would be either a theatrical run followed by Disney+ availability, or a direct premiere on Hulu in the US and Disney+ internationally. Both scenarios are plausible.
Yamazaki's track record suggests the film will aim for theatrical impact first. Godzilla Minus One was built around the big-screen experience, with visual effects that punched well above the production's budget. A straight-to-streaming release would feel like an odd choice for a filmmaker who clearly thinks in cinematic scale.
That said, the ocean-set, original sci-fi premise puts Nue in an interesting position. Original IP without an existing franchise base can be a harder theatrical sell, which is exactly why we'll be watching the marketing strategy closely as more details emerge. Whether this becomes a tentpole release or a prestigious streaming event, keep an eye on your preferred platform's catalog over the coming months. We'll update our listings the moment a distribution window gets confirmed.