At long last, production is underway for the live-action Gundam movie and the cast has been announced for the latest Netflix sci-fi epic!
Netflix’s original movie slate can run the gamut from rom-coms that would be at home on the Hallmark Channel, to mid-tier action flicks, to big-budget sci-fi epics such as Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon series. However, few Netflix projects are coming with as much hype as Gundam.
Courtesy of Tumdum, it’s confirmed that filming has begun for the live-action adaptation of the acclaimed Japanese anime franchise. It appears to be a mix of both the classic original storyline and a new tale, with the typical space war visuals enhanced by giant robot suits. Here's the official description for the film:
“As shifting allegiances and a growing threat set them on a collision course for one another, Earth and its former space colonies are pulled into a high-stakes race across the stars that could define the fate of humanity. With awe-inspiring battles, intimate human emotion, and an epic cinematic scale, this is Gundam like it’s been seen before.”
The film’s announced cast is already getting attention. It was already known that Sydney Sweeney of Euphoria and The Housemaid fame (not to mention various real-life controversies) will co-star with Noah Centineo, known to Netflix viewers already for his roles in All The Boys I’ve Ever Loved and The Recruit. Added on is a pack of actors that includes Jackson White, Shioli Kutsuna, Nonso Anozie, Michael Mando, Javon “Wanna” Walton, Oleksandr Rudynskyi, Ida Brooke, Gemma Chua-Tran, and Jason Isaacs.
Filming is underway in Queensland, Australia, an area needed to bring this stunning franchise to life.
Can Gundam work in live-action?
In anime circles, Gundam is not a show; it’s an institution. Begun in 1979, the series is the pinnacle of the “mecha” genre, in which battles are fought in giant mobile robotic suits instead of spaceships. This is married to a growing mythology mixing history, politics, human drama, and more.
The franchise has spawned just about every piece of media imaginable: over 50 TV shows, films and various animated specials, manga, video games and more. There’s even a massive Gundam mecha statue in Tokyo. The franchise has overall grossed over $5 billion in retail sales and frankly, it's amazing it’s taken this long for Hollywood to take notice.
Of course, some fans may be concerned about the production. Live-action takes on anime have a hit-or-miss track record (see Scarlett Johansson's Ghost in the Shell), and having a mostly American cast for a Japanese property is also a concern. However, Netflix did manage to make One Piece work wonderfully in live-action for both fans and newcomers alike.
The film is directed by Jim Mickle, who has experience with adaptations, including Netflix’s acclaimed take on the comic book Sweet Tooth. That gives more hope that this can work, as it has a built-in audience ready to see the epic Gundam saga finally jump into live-action for a fantastic adventure.
The Gundam film debuts on Netflix in 2027.
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