For years, anime fans wondered when Hollywood would get to work on a live-action adaptation of the revered Mobile Suit Gundam franchise. Now, it’s closer than ever to becoming a reality, and a particularly “sweet” filmmaker is at the helm.
Having previously done wonders for Netflix’s adaptation of the Vertigo comic book Sweet Tooth, per Deadline, Jim Mickle is now set to bring the planned Gundam movie to life. Heavily acclaimed by critics, the science fiction series features a grim future that might make Mickle a great fit for Gundam. Recent live-action takes on anime have also become increasingly high-quality, which bodes well for the new adaptation.
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The reach of Gundam and anime in general has expanded since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the franchise’s director intends to reflect this new audience.
Gundam’s Upcoming Live-Action Film Has Finally Found Its Director
Jim Mickle will both direct and write the upcoming live-action Mobile Suit Gundam movie — a collaboration between Legendary Pictures and Bandai Namco Filmworks. Nightshade is also producing the movie, with the company bringing Mickle together with his partner Linda Moran. Mickle has previously created movies such as Stake Land, Mulberry Street and Cold In July, with his filmography being mostly composed of thrillers, crime stories and horror movies. Easily his biggest hit, however, has been the Netflix adaptation of Jeff Lemire’s Sweet Tooth, which was lauded for all three seasons of its recently-concluded run. The Hap and Leonard series for Sundance based around the fictional duo was also very well-received, showing that the Gundam film is in very talented hands.
Legendary Pictures has been involved with the successful MonsterVerse movies (based around giant monsters such as Kong and Godzilla) as well as the similar Pacific Rim property. Thus, if anyone was going to do justice to the giant robots of the Mobile Suit Gundam in a live-action movie, it would be the production company. Gundam is seen by many as the premiere science fiction franchise in Japan, with many comparing it to the space-based action of Star Wars and the politics and philosophy of Star Trek. Recently, the franchise has seen major successes in streaming and the box office, with 2024’s Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom being the most financially successful entry in the series. It’s unknown which continuity the live-action Gundam movie will be set in, but given the fan base, there will be some major expectations placed on Mickle and the rest of the production crew. The movie is currently set to begin production in early 2025.
Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam follows Amuro Ray as he learns to pilot an experimental mobile suit called the Gundam. After his home is destroyed in an attack by the Principality of Zeon. Amuro joins the crew of the White Base carrier as they attempt to regroup with the Earth Federation. The show is as much a Saturday morning cartoon as it is a somber meditation on the cost of war and the arbitrary lines it drives between humanity. MSG set the stage for the rest of the entire Gundam franchise, which spans more than 40 years of TV shows, manga, movies, and video games.
Source: Deadline
