Mobile Suit Gundam Confirms Live-Action Movie Plans With One of Netflix's Top Directors
The Mobile Suit Gundam universe just keeps expanding, reaching ever higher horizons as each day passes. While the world-famous mech anime continues to grow in popularity around the world, new projects involving Sunrise's top franchise continue to be announced. For some time now, word has circled about Gundam's live-action plans as Hollywood is embracing all things otaku. Now, a new update on the project has gone live, and the promo is nothing if not positive.
Gundam fans, it is true. The hit anime is coming to live-action as Bandai Namco Entertainment, the company who owns the rights to the beloved anime, is working with the film studio Legendary to bring the series to life. Oh, and that is not all. Bandai Namco also made another revelation that will broaden the reach of Gundam outside of Japan: an American Bandai film studio is being formed.
Mobile Suit Gundam Will Soon Come to Life
Bandai and Legendary Will Work on the Next Step for the Franchise
Early on January 5, 2025, Bandai Namco Japan released an announcement confirming the development of a live-action Gundam movie. Long reported on, this official announcement was made after the production giant signed an agreement with the American film studio Legendary, which is known best for its popular Monsterverse films, to co-finance the project. At this time, few details of this exciting project have been released, but we know a few key pieces of information. For one, we know Jim Mickle (Sweet Tooth) is writing and directing the project, and the movie will be released in theaters globally.
Of course, if you know anything about live-action anime, you will know the genre is storied in Hollywood. Japan has long adapted hit anime into live-action film, but Hollywood's tenure has been more volatile. From Dragonball Evolution to Death Note, anime has not fared well in Hollywood historically, but that reputation is changing. Thanks to Netflix's One Piece, Hollywood has proven it can do live-action anime right, and there is reason to believe Legendary will help Bandai Namco do the same for Gundam. After all, the company brought Pacific Rim to life, and the series is still considered one of the best Western mech movies to date.
A New American Film Studio Was Also Announced
Bandai Namco Will Open a New Subsidiary
Along with the news about Gundam’s live-action plans, Bandai Namco also revealed that a new subsidiary of their film division would open in America. According to the announcement, the new branch will work directly with Legendary on the production of the upcoming Gundam movie. Bandai also stated this subsidiary will help usher the Gundam franchise into North America more widely, implying the series and its related products will become more visible throughout the territory.
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