Producer Dan Lin Gives GODZILLA Update; Says Production Will Likely Take Place in Vancouver

One of the most pleasant surprises from this past summer’s Comic-Con was a test reel of footage from director Gareth Edwards’ reboot of Godzilla.  The crowd went nuts for Edwards’ grounded take on the material, and development on the film picked up shortly thereafter, with filming now set to get underway in the spring.  Steve recently interviewed producer Dan Lin in anticipation of the upcoming crime drama Gangster Squad, and Lin also briefly gave an update on Godzilla.  He talked about Edwards’ realistic approach to the story, when and where they’re filming, and how Edwards went all-out when presenting his take to the studio.  Hit the jump to read Lin’s comments.

Steve asked Lin for an update on Godzilla, and the producer talked about Edwards’ passion for the project:

“We’re planning to film in March.  We are in deep pre-production.  Gareth [Edwards] has really mapped out his vision for the movie, you saw the teaser, but Gareth—thanks to [Legendary CEO] Thomas Tull’s help—he took over a whole stage on the Warner Brothers lot and not only showed the teaser you saw, he had some models built of Godzilla, he had art decorated all over the soundstage, he had pre-vis of some of the big action sequences in the movie.”

Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey previously revealed that production will probably last until June, and Lin went on to add that filming will likely take place in Vancouver.  The producer also spoke a bit about Edwards’ take on the material:

“So we’re in deep pre-production and Gareth’s vision of the movie is really exciting, it’s a true reboot of Godzilla.  And you saw from the Comic-Con footage it is a grounded, realistic version of Godzilla.  What would happen if Godzilla came into our world today?”

You can read the full transcript of Lin’s comments on Godzilla below, and look for the full interview closer to the release of Gangster Squad.

Collider: I saw the teaser and I love the director and it’s a project that I honestly cannot wait to see.  Talk about where the project is at right now, when you are filming, and all that stuff.

Lin: We’re planning to film in March.  We are in deep pre-production.  Gareth [Edwards] has really mapped out his vision for the movie, you saw the teaser, but Gareth thanks to Thomas Tull’s help he took over a whole stage on the Warner Brothers lot and not only showed the teaser you saw, he had some models built of Godzilla, he had art decorated all over the soundstage, he had pre-vis of some of the big action sequences in the movie.  So we’re in deep pre-production and Gareth’s vision of the movie is really exciting it’s a true re-boot of Godzilla.  And you saw from the Comic-Con footage it is a grounded, realistic version of Godzilla.  What would happen if Godzilla came into our world today?

Are you sticking to any of the previous incarnations of Godzilla in terms of where he comes from and that kind of stuff, or is it all new?  Because Pacific Rim it’s another dimension, if you will.

Lin: It’s a little too early and I want to let audiences experience it with the rest of us.

Are you filming in LA?

Lin: Most likely it’s filming in Vancouver.

Well, there we go.  Of course, Godzilla is massively popular in Asia, are you already involving an Asian continent in the film?

Lin: I don’t want to give any plot details right now; I want you guys to be surprised.

If you missed what Lin told us about Sherlock Holmes 3, click here, and if you missed what he told us about Lego: Piece of Resistance, click here.