‘MONSTERS’ DIRECTOR TO HELM ‘GODZILLA’

Special effects juggernaut “Godzilla” has a director with British helmer Gareth Edwards on board for Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros.“Godzilla” would be Edwards’ second film. He wrote and directed low-budget sci-fier “Monsters,” for which he won trophies for best director and best technical achievement last month at the British Independent Film Awards.

“Monsters,” set in Mexico, focused on an alienmonster infestation in a quarantine zone.

Legendary had announced in March that it had closed the rights deal for “Godzilla” with Japan’s Toho Co., which has overseen more than 25 “Godzilla” films. It also announced at that point that it was aiming “Godzilla” for a 2012 release.In addition to Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni, producers on the new film will be Dan Lin (“Sherlock Holmes”), Roy Lee and Brian Rogers.

“Godzilla” is part of Legendary’s financing deal with Warner Bros. Legendary’s productions with Warners have included “The Dark Knight,” “300” and “The Hangover.” Edwards is also expected to work on the script, written by David Callaham