Gundam Live-Action Film: Production Underway

A live-action adaptation of the iconic Mobile Suit Gundam anime and toy franchise is finally moving forward, with Bandai Namco and Legendary Pictures entering a co-financing agreement to bring the project to life.

While initially announced in 2018, news on the film has been scarce. However, this recent announcement from Legendary and the newly established Bandai Namco Filmworks America signals that fans can anticipate the first-ever live-action Gundam movie on the big screen.

The companies confirmed that the Mobile Suit Gundam film (currently untitled) will be written and directed by Kim Mickle (Sweet Tooth) and receive a global theatrical release.

This marks a significant step for a franchise boasting a vast and lucrative portfolio, encompassing 25 anime series, 34 animated films, 27 original anime productions, and a highly successful toy line, generating over $900 million annually.

Legendary and Bandai Namco stated, "We plan to steadily announce details as they become finalized." While a release date and plot details remain undisclosed, a teaser poster has been unveiled.

They further highlighted the franchise's impact: "Beginning its broadcast in 1979, Mobile Suit Gundam pioneered the 'real robot anime' genre, departing from the simplistic good versus evil narratives prevalent in earlier robot anime. Its realistic portrayal of war, detailed scientific explorations, and complex human dramas, treating robots—'mobile suits'—as weapons, sparked a phenomenal boom."