'Godzilla' director praises top-notch cast

NEW YORK, May 26 (UPI) -- Director Gareth Edwards says he loves that the cast credits for Godzilla look more like they are for an art-house film than a massive, monster movie.

Godzilla boasts an ensemble led by Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, David Strathairn and Sally Hawkins.

Edwards told reporters at a recent roundtable interview in New York that he had to reassure actors it wouldn't be just another "popcorn blockbuster."

"With each actor, there was a hesitation about doing it because there is a version of this film, they feel, could be not a great movie and I feel like a lot of actors -- you get the impression looking at their resumes -- that they sort of go, 'OK, I'm going to do a personal project and then I'm going to do a commercial project, then I'll do a personal project and I'll do a commercial project.' And I said to everybody: 'You have to do this as your personal project; don't be treating it like it's some popcorn blockbuster. We need a performance that is as a strong as [you'd give] in an Oscar-bait drama.' And they all responded to that really well."

"And when they read the screenplay," he continued, "and they could see there was some emotion in there, as well, and, hopefully, another layer to the film other than just a monster movie, they all jumped on board."

Godzilla is in theaters now.