Gundam Live-Action Adaptation Begins Filming

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, details have been scarce until now. This recent confirmation from Legendary and the newly established Bandai Namco Filmworks America signals that a live-action Gundam film is finally headed to theaters worldwide.

The currently untitled film will be written and directed by Kim Mickle (Sweet Tooth) and receive a global theatrical release.

This marks the first live-action venture for a franchise boasting a staggering portfolio: 25 anime series, 34 animated films, 27 original anime productions, and a hugely successful 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 points remain undisclosed, although a teaser poster has been unveiled.

They further highlighted the franchise's 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."