Production of 'Godzilla 2016' under way

Production has started on "Godzilla 2016", the working title of Japanese film, theatre production and distribution company Toho's new film featuring the iconic monster.

Toho has to yet to formally announce the start of shooting, though a growing accumulation of evidence points that way, reports variety.com.

The company has launched a "Godzilla 2016" web page.

A video of "Godzilla 2016" extras running through the streets near Tokyo's Kamata Station on September 6 as well as photographs of another extra stampede at Yokohama's Yokodai Station posted on Facebook on September 13 have been credited to Gomaru Island, a community of monster movie fans tracking the film's production.

The movie was green-lighted by the company in December last year in response to the global success of the Gareth Evans-directed Hollywood version, which has also gone into sequel for Warner Bros. At the time, Toho producer Taichi Ueda said: "The time has come for Japan to make a film that will not lose to Hollywood."

Later, in April, Toho announced that Hideaki Anno, best known for his work on the "Evangelion" animation franchise, and Shinji Higuchi, an effects movie specialist, would co-direct "Godzilla 2016," with Anno writing the script.

Since then Toho has been tight-lipped about details.