The long-awaited live-action adaptation of the iconic Mobile Suit Gundam franchise is finally moving forward, with Bandai Namco and Legendary Pictures officially co-financing the project.
While initially announced in 2018, updates have been scarce. However, this recent confirmation from Legendary and the newly established Bandai Namco Filmworks America signifies that a live-action Gundam film is on its way to theaters worldwide.
The currently untitled film will be written and directed by Kim Mickle (known for Sweet Tooth) and promises a global theatrical release.
This marks the first live-action venture for a franchise boasting an extensive catalog: 25 anime series, 34 animated films, 27 original anime productions, and a wildly popular toy line, generating over $900 million in annual revenue.
Bandai Namco and Legendary stated, "We plan to steadily announce details as they become finalized." Specific release dates and plot details remain undisclosed, although a teaser poster has been unveiled.
They further emphasized the franchise's groundbreaking impact: "Debuting in 1979, Mobile Suit Gundam revolutionized the 'real robot anime' genre, moving beyond simplistic good-versus-evil narratives. Its realistic portrayal of war, meticulous scientific detail, and complex human dramas, treating robots ('mobile suits') as weapons, sparked a phenomenal cultural phenomenon."