Comic

Godzilla took over San Diego Comic-Con with its viral campaign and press stop that left us wondering what's in store. Cast members Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Olson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and director Gareth Edwards talked about why Godzilla's ready for a comeback and the relevancy of the creature.

Why now is a good time for Godzilla:

Gareth Edwards: It's like a canvas, such a rich universe. Once you accept those giant creatures you can kind of do anything you want. This work stands the test of time because it's so right and re-inventing/ revisiting [since] it's not a single story. It can be any story you want.

Cranston on the first time he saw Godzilla:

Bryan Cranston: Unfortunately, my discovery was back in the '50s when the first movie came out. The year I was born. As a kid watching, that's astonishing, even for its time. It was amazing to see those effects that were state of the art at the time. I thought it was neat for a boy, it was great destruction, the minuatures. But our tastes have become so sophisticated since then and certainly now. And that's what's so great about this version of Godzilla is that there's careful concern to develop the plot lines and intricacies and the character development.

Elizabeth Olson on her role in Godzilla:

Elizabeth Olson: I think my character serves as the hands on interaction with chaos in the city and how you deal with that as well as having a child who needs to not be part of the chaos and what ends up happening after these things occur. And there's an overflowing hospital. It references anytime some sort of natural disaster happens, there's a real truth to it.

On what this incarnation of Godzilla is about:

Aaron Taylor-Johnson: It's an origin story. I don't wanna give too much away but it's definitely an origin story.

On Guillermo del Toro's take on destruction in Pacific Rim:

Gareth Edwards: I thought it was great. I love Guillermo Del Toro and he was very supportive of this movie and this process. He had nothing but great support for us. I think our film is very different. Contemporary times, it's kind of a character driven and it's got a sort of spectacle to it. I have be careful with what words I use. It's got a somberness as well, its quite moving as well. We've tried to make a blockbuster that harks back to the pace and style of the late '70s,early '80s type of movies. There was a scene that Bryan did that we're so pleased with that was shot in a shit factory.

Bryan Cranston: Yeah we shot in a human waste processing plant. That was nice.

Cranston and Johnson on seeing cosplayers dressed as their characters:

Bryan Cranston: I've seen a few on the floor dressed as Walter White-I mean my character. It's flattering. It's a lot of fun to see them.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson: I'd say the same. It's amazing to come to Comic-Con where they're so passionate and enthusiastic and dress up for the occasion.

Elizabeth Olson: It must be crazy. Have some guy be like 'Here's your face on my shirt, sign it.'

Bryan Cranston: There's tattoos of Walter White on various body parts. More than I wanna know.

On what kind of tale Godzilla is:

Bryan Cranston: It's a cautionary tale. I think you look at the tale and you see the scope of it and it's relevant to today's times-harnessing power, messing with mother nature. Can you actually do that? Can you get away with that? How long can you get away with that? Disbursement of waste, that sort of thing. I think living in that rear view is this creature that emerges from the muck and mire. It's exciting.

Godzilla opens in May 16, 2014