Legendary Entertainment and Bandai Namco Filmworks have joined forces to bring the iconic Mobile Suit Gundam franchise to the big screen with a Live Action movie, this exciting project will mark a milestone in the history of the saga, which has fascinated generations of fans since its debut in 1979. With its legacy spanning more than four decades, Gundam has established itself as one of anime’s most popular mecha franchises, and now its expansion into a Live Action film represents a new challenge and an opportunity to reach a wider global audience.
GUNDAM announces the first Mobile Suit Gundam Live Action Movie
Recently, through the official site GUNDAM.INFO, it was announced the production of the first Mobile Suit Gundam movie in Live Action format, this ambitious project, tentatively titled GUNDAM, will be co-produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks and Legendary Entertainment. Both companies have signed a joint investment agreement to develop the film, marking a new chapter in the history of this incredible and popular franchise that has marked the childhood of many fans, as well as wanting to bring it to many more people.
On the official website, some details about this new Mobile Suit Gundam project were released, such as the direction and script of the movie, which will be in charge of Jim Mickle, known for his work on the hit series Sweet Tooth. The GUNDAM production will be produced under the Legendary Pictures label and is expected to be released in theaters worldwide, with a strong focus on high-quality visual effects to bring the Mobile Suits to life on the big screen.
Since its debut in 1979, Mobile Suit Gundam revolutionized the real robot anime genre, moving away from traditional stories of struggle between good and evil to present a more realistic approach to war and politics, with mechas treated as weapons in a complex war context. The franchise, created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, has grown exponentially over the years, spawning 25 TV series, 34 movies, 27 OVAs and a wide range of spin-off products such as video games, figures and scale models.
The impact of Mobile Suit Gundam has not only been felt in animation and entertainment, but also in pop culture and the modeling industry, its Gunpla (scale models of Mobile Suits) have been a global phenomenon, representing a significant part of Bandai Namco’s revenue. This resulted in 2022 Gundam-related sales exceeding 140 billion yen (approximately $900 million), cementing it as one of the most profitable franchises in anime history.
In addition, in order to strengthen Gundam’s global expansion, Bandai Namco Filmworks has announced the creation of Bandai Namco Filmworks America, LLC, which will begin operations on April 1, 2025. This new subsidiary will be focused on expanding the franchise’s international reach and consolidating its presence in foreign markets, its mission will be to expand the international licensing business and increase the value of the Mobile Suit Gundam brand globally, ensuring that this saga continues to evolve and reach new audiences.
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