Along with a captivating storyline and gripping visuals, Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla also boasts an ensemble cast who play a crucial role in making its sci-fi drama all the more compelling. Serving as the first installment in Toho Co., Ltd’s MonsterVerse, Godzilla mostly received optimistic reviews from viewers and critics when it first hit the big screens. Even from a commercial standpoint, the film was successful since it earned $529 million at the global box office on a budget of $160 million.
While many factors contributed to its success, Gareth Edwards’ directorial forte and dedication to staying true to its source material were key aspects that audiences appreciated. Apart from Gareth Edwards’ contribution, the film was also commended for the performances of its cast. Given how Godzilla‘s cast members were instrumental in selling the authenticity of its fictional narrative, it can be hard not to wonder who plays whom in the film.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Lieutenant Ford Brody
Known for Kick-Ass and Avengers: Age of Ultron
Born in High Wycombe on 13 June 1990, Aaron Taylor Johnson’s birth name was Aaron Perry Johnson. Although he started acting at the age of six, his first prominent role was in the 2009 biographical film Nowhere Boy, in which he played John Lennon. Aaron Taylor Johnson later rose to fame when he portrayed the titular character in the comic book adaptation Kick-Ass. While Aaron Taylor Johnson has starred in several TV shows and movies over the years, he is best known for playing Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Tangerine in Bullet Train, and Ives in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet.
In 2014’s Godzilla, Aaron Taylor-Johnson portrays a stoic soldier named Lieutenant Ford Brody, who returns home to his wife and son from a tour of duty. However, he is forced to return to Japan to investigate a disaster in a fictional Japanese city called Janjira. Upon arriving, he and his father learn that the disaster is connected to a prehistoric monster. This marks the inception of his journey into chaos, where humanity’s fate seemingly hangs by a thread.
Where To Watch Every Monsterverse Movie & Show
Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse is one of the most popular cinematic universes, and here is where and how to watch every MonsterVerse film.
Elizabeth Olsen as Elle Brody
Known for playing Wanda in the MCU
Elizabeth Olsen, the younger sister of twin fashion designers and renowned actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, was born in Sherman Oaks, California. She made her film acting debut in 2011 with Martha Marcy May Marlene, which earned her immense acclaim. While she is recognizable for her appearances in several popular TV shows and movies, like Love & Death, Wind River, Sorry For Your Loss, and Kodachrome, most audiences would associate her with her portrayal of the Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Before starring in Avengers: Age of Ultron alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen collaborated with him in Godzilla by playing his character’s wife, Elle. When Taylor-Johnson’s Ford is apprehensive about leaving for Japan after returning home from a tour, Elle, who is a nurse, convinces him to go.
Bryan Cranston as Joe Brody
Known for playing Walter White in Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston was born in Hollywood, Los Angeles, to a family of actors. From 1994 to 2006, he played diverse roles in several TV shows and movies, including Saving Private Ryan, Seinfeld, and Malcolm in the Middle. During this span, he was also in a Vince Gillian-directed X-Files episode, which paved the way for his Breaking Bad stardom. Vince Gillian’s Breaking Bad allowed Cranston to achieve new levels of mainstream success, making him a household for his incredible portrayal of Walter White. Since Breaking Bad, Cranston has also starred in films like Drive, Argylle, and Asteroid City.
Putting his acting prowess on display in Godzilla, Bryan Cranston convincingly plays a scientist named Joseph “Joe” Brody. Joe is Ford’s father, who previously worked as a lead engineer at the Janjira nuclear plant. As his backstory in Godzilla reveals, he lost his wife, Sandra, after the 1999 breach in the nuclear power plant.
Godzilla (2014) Supporting Cast & Characters
Juliette Binoche as Sandra Brody: Joe Brody’s wife, Sandra, who dies in the nuclear power plant incident, is portrayed by Juliette Binoche in Godzilla. Binoche is best known for appearing in movies like The English Patient, Certified Copy, and Ghost in the Shell.
Sally Hawkins as Dr. Vivienne Graham: Academy Award nominee Sally Hawking, of The Shape of Water, Maudie, and Wonka fame, plays Dr. Graham in Godzilla.
Ken Watanabe as Dr. Ishirō Serizawa: Ken Watanabe, who has appeared in several acclaimed films like The Last Samurai and Letters from Iwo Jima, plays Dr. Serizawa in Godzilla.
T. J. Storm as Godzilla: T.J. Storm, who has given motion capture performances in several popular films, like Tron: Legacy, Captain America: Civil War, and Deadpool, plays the titular character in Godzilla.
Godzilla (2014)
Godzilla is a 2014 American reboot of the popular kaiju property and the first film in Legendary’s Monsterverse franchise. The film centers around Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who travels to Japan after his father Joe (Bryan Cranston) is detained for trying to uncover the truth about his wife’s death 15 years prior. Together they fight to survive as Joe’s conspiracy theory becomes true and giant monsters begin attacking the world.
- Director
- Gareth Edwards
- Release Date
- May 16, 2014
- Studio(s)
- Legendary Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures , Toho
- Writers
- Max Borenstein , David Callaham
- Cast
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Bryan Cranston , Elizabeth Olsen , Ken Watanabe , Sally Hawkins , Vera Farmiga , David Strathairn
- Runtime
- 123 Minutes
- Budget
- $160 Million
