The long-awaited live-action adaptation of the iconic Mobile Suit Gundam franchise is finally moving forward, with Bandai Namco and Legendary Pictures officially partnering to co-finance 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 signals that a live-action Gundam film is on the horizon.
The collaboration confirms that Mobile Suit Gundam (currently untitled) will be helmed by Kim Mickle, director of Sweet Tooth, who will also pen the screenplay. A global theatrical release is planned.
This marks the first live-action venture for a franchise boasting a vast library of content, including 25 anime series, 34 animated films, 27 original anime productions, and a highly successful toy line, generating over $900 million annually.
Bandai Namco and Legendary stated that further details will be revealed as they are finalized. Specific release dates and plot points remain undisclosed, although a teaser poster has been unveiled.
They emphasized the franchise's groundbreaking impact, stating that Mobile Suit Gundam, which premiered in 1979, revolutionized the "real robot anime" genre. Its realistic portrayal of war, scientific depth, and complex human drama, treating robots ("mobile suits") as weapons, created a cultural phenomenon.
