After years of speculation, the long-discussed live-action version of Mobile Suit Gundam appears to be inching closer to reality. The project, which first gained attention in 2018 when Legendary partnered with Bandai and Namco to co-finance a feature film, has seen long stretches without updates. Recent remarks from actress Sydney Sweeney have now offered at least a hint of ongoing progress.
Speaking with MovieWeb’s Joe Deckelmeier, Sweeney was asked whether the film is moving forward. Her short reply was, “There is every single day.” While brief, the comment indicates that work on the movie continues behind the scenes and that she remains involved in the production.
Sweeney was reported months ago to have joined the cast, along with singer and actor Benson Boone, whose participation was confirmed more recently. The last major official communication about the movie came in February, when the studios stated that details would be revealed once finalized. Since then, fans have been waiting for firm developments.
The statement from the companies read, “We plan to steadily announce details as they become finalized. Mobile Suit Gundam, which began broadcasting in 1979, established the genre of ‘real robot anime’ that could not be described in terms of simple good and evil, which had been the trend of robot anime up to that point, with realistic depictions of war, detailed scientific examinations, and intricately interwoven human dramas that treated robots as ‘weapons’ called ‘mobile suits,’ and caused a huge boom.”
The Gundam franchise remains one of Japan’s biggest cultural exports, spanning 25 anime series, 34 animated films, and 27 original video productions, along with a long-running toy line valued at roughly $1 billion per year. That level of brand power has made expectations for the adaptation high, even as fans wait for concrete news.
Jim Mickle, known for his work as showrunner on Netflix’s Sweet Tooth, is attached to direct the film. Promotional material so far includes only a single poster. A release date or filming schedule has not yet been confirmed.
For now, confirmation that production activity continues may be the most reliable sign yet that the long-delayed Gundam movie could finally take shape.
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