Before facing prehistoric creatures in her latest movie, Anne Hathaway had already dealt with giant reptilians in the 2016 movie Colossal, proving she was no stranger to battling—or being connected to—monstrous threats.
With its unique mix of monster mayhem, dark comedy, and Hathaway’s memorable acting, Colossal has only become more interesting with time. If you’ve seen The End of Oak Street, then it’s only natural to revisit this old gem. In fact, it received positive reviews from critics, noting the cast’s stellar performance and unique genre mash-up.
The movie, however, was faced with a dilemma before it began filming after Toho, the Japanese production company that brought Godzilla to life, sued Voltage Pictures for apparently using Godzilla’s image.
Anne Hathaway Dealt With Huge Monsters Already In 2016’s Colossal
Even before the dinosaurs in The End of Oak Street came into the picture, Hathaway had already gone up against gigantic monsters.
In 2016’s Colossal, she played Gloria, a woman who discovers that her actions are mysteriously connected to the appearance of a kaiju in Seoul. The film gave her a very different kind of monster story, mixing science fiction, comedy, and drama while putting Hathaway at the center of the chaos.
The recent release of The End of Oak Street makes Colossal especially worth revisiting. Hathaway’s return to a story involving monstrous threats not only highlights how the 2016 film was an earlier example of her taking on unusual creature-driven material but also shows how her experience with larger-than-life menaces has influenced her performance in her latest project.
With The End of Oak Street now giving audiences another reason to look back at Hathaway’s monster-movie history, Colossal feels more relevant than ever. After all, this type of film never goes out of style. Audiences have always been fascinated by the idea of facing something bigger, stranger, and more dangerous than themselves.
This lasting popularity is part of what makes films like Colossal a must-watch for fans. This genre offers more than destruction and visual effects—it also explores humanity and the concept of terror and fear.
As new monster movies continue to arrive, older entries can surely find a new audience and remind viewers why the genre has remained popular for generations.
Why Japanese Company Toho Filed Lawsuit Against Voltage Pictures
Still of a kaiju in Colossal / Credits: Voltage Pictures
Production for Hathaway’s Colossal did not go as smoothly as possible. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Japanese company Toho filed a lawsuit against Voltage Pictures before the filming began, alleging that the production company had used Godzilla’s image and stills from earlier Godzilla films without authorization in emails and promotional materials sent to prospective investors.
Still, Colossal and Voltage Pictures were not deterred by the case. A settlement was made between the parties allowing the release of the movie after the lawsuit ultimately went no further.
As per another report from THR, Voltage Pictures planned to dispute whether the court had jurisdiction over the matter while also arguing defenses including fair use and the plaintiff’s alleged failure to limit its losses. However, the case was dismissed before the judge could make any decision on the underlying claims.
A source said the producers of Colossal clarified that there was no intention of remaking Godzilla. After this, development of the project continued to move forward.
The dispute was evidently resolved before it could develop into a major legal battle, yet the situation showed how important it is for filmmakers to be careful when referencing or using established monster icons like Godzilla.
Have you watched Colossal yet? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Colossal is currently available to watch on Prime Video.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
