Varan: The Unsung Monster of the Toho Universe
Varan, a flying squirrel-like monster, made his debut in 1958’s Varan the Unbelievable and was later integrated into Toho’s universe of giant monsters. Despite being a formidable creature, Varan was never given the chance to share the big screen with Godzilla, with multiple plans and scripts cancelled or changed.
Four times, Toho attempted to pit Varan against Godzilla, but it never came to fruition. The plans included a three-on-three showdown with Ghidorah, Mogu, and Gigan in The Return of King Ghidorah!, a fight against Rodan and Gigan in Godzilla vs. Gigan, a movie titled Godzilla vs. Giant Monster Varan, and a concept for Godzilla vs. Destoroyah that eventually became Godzilla vs. Destoroyah.
Despite being absent from Toho’s movies since 1968, Varan’s unique abilities, including gliding and swimming, make him a viable opponent for Godzilla in the Monsterverse. As a versatile monster, Varan could deliver exciting action sequences, and his ability to fight in the air, on land, and in water makes him a force to be reckoned with.
If brought into the Monsterverse, Varan could be portrayed as an ancient, apocalyptic creature destined to bring about the destruction of the planet. This aligns with the franchise’s focus on ancient monsters and could create a compelling storyline. A hidden message in the Godzilla: King of the Monsters credits hints at a mysterious, apocalyptic threat, and Varan could be the ideal creature to fill that role.