There appears to be no good, original ideas left in Hollywood, forcing studios to remake/reb00t/reinvent/reincarnate and use every other “re” prefix in the English language when announcing “new” projects. This news certainly continues the recent tradition of making movie fans everywhere roll their eyes. Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures announced today in a press release (via The Hollywood Reporter) that they are bringing back that big Ol’ lovable, terrorizing, giant lizard in the form of a new Godzilla movie.

Godzilla surely needs no introduction, but here’s a quick RE-cap (ha!) of the monster’s incarnations on the silver screen. The first Godzilla movie was released over 50 years ago in 1954 from Japan’s Toho Studios, in which the lizard famously massacred Tokyo and it’s inhabitants. Then, more unfortunately, it was RE-made (ha!) in 1998 by disaster king Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, 2012). Except that time, the lizard monster was ripping apart New York City and spawning a legion of lizard babies in Madison Square Garden. Oh and that abomination that was Puff Daddy (that was his name back then, right?) and Jimmy Page crafting the film’s theme song. Remember that? I’m still trying to forget.

But Warner Bros. and Legendary are both convinced that they can RE-invent (ha!) Godzilla for today’s movie audience. Here’s the full press release:

Burbank, CA – March 29, 2010 – Legendary Pictures announced today that they will develop and produce a new film based on Toho Company’s famed GODZILLA character.  Through the terms of the agreement, Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights to produce a movie inspired by Toho’s Godzilla, a franchise the Japanese company created and has nurtured for over fifty years.

Toho’s GODZILLA franchise boasts one of the most widely recognized film creatures worldwide, resulting in a series of books, television programs, video games and more than 25 films worldwide.  Legendary intends to approach the film and its characters in the most authentic manner possible.  The company will, in the near future, announce a filmmaker to helm the film for an intended 2012 release. The film will fall under the company’s co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros.  Toho will distribute the film in Japan.

“Godzilla is one of the world’s most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be able to create a modern epic based on this long-loved Toho franchise,” said Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary. “Our plans are to produce the Godzilla that we, as fans, would want to see.  We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop-culturally relevant for as long as it has.”

“Godzilla is a signature Japanese character which we have nurtured over the years. It is a great honor to reach an agreement with Legendary Pictures, the parent to many a blockbuster film, and we are delighted in rebooting the character together to realize its much anticipated return by fans from all over the world,” comments Hideyuki Takai, President of Toho Co., Ltd. “We are anxious to find out where Godzilla’s new stomping will take us.”

“Godzilla is emblematic of the kind of branded, event films for which Warner Bros. and our partners at Legendary are best known. We have enjoyed a great deal of success together to date and this newest opportunity represents yet another chance for us to collaborate on a property that is very clearly in their wheelhouse,” said Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.

In addition to Legendary, producers on the new film will be Dan Lin, Roy Lee and Brian Rogers. Yoshimitsu Banno, Kenji Okuhira and Doug Davison will Executive Produce.

“Do justice to the character.” “Most powerful pop culture icons.” Blah, blah, blah. Whatever. Look, WB and Legendary is a dynamic partnership (300, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight), but until they announce who’s writing the script, who’s attached to direct and who’s being cast, Godzilla is going to be in the far back-burner of my “most-anticipated.” They’re hoping to get the new Godzilla out in theaters by 2012.

What Do You Think? Discuss.