Having been stuck in development trouble for years, the Gundam movie is finally moving forward, with Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo at the forefront (via Deadline). Initially announced in 2018 at Anime Expo, Y: The Last Man author Brian K. Vaughan was initially attached to pen the movie, with Jordan Vogt-Roberts attached to helm the adaptation. Fast forward to 2021, Netflix got involved in the production, and the duo of K. Vaughan and Vogt-Roberts was no longer involved.
Although the project faced another standstill, it has once again gained momentum and is now being developed by Legendary alongside franchise owner Bandai Namco Filmworks. Moreover, Netflix is reportedly set to distribute the movie, raising concerns about its box office potential.
Who’s Directing the Live-Action Gundam Movie?
After the exit of Brian K. Vaughan and Jordan Vogt-Roberts, Legendary has now tapped Jim Mickle as its director. Notable for helming Sweet Tooth, Mickle will be directing the movie from his own script.
While it’s unclear when the adaptation will commence production, last year Sydney Sweeney assured that there have been movements “every single day” when she was asked about the movie’s progress (via MovieWeb).
As for the plot details, everything about Mickle’s script remains under wraps. And it’s also unclear what characters the Euphoria star and Noah Centineo will be playing in the adaptation of the iconic anime that pioneered the real robot subgenre of the mecha genre.
While Hollywood’s track record when it comes to live-action anime adaptations isn’t exactly enticing, given Gundam‘s cultural significance and popularity, this could be a massive hit if executed properly. That said, Netflix’s involvement introduces a caveat that could significantly hinder the adaptation’s box-office prospects.
Will Netflix Limit Gundam’s Big-Screen Potential?
Gundam‘s cultural impact, particularly in Japan, is comparable to that of Star Wars in the US, and to this date, it’s regarded as one of the greatest franchises to stem from anime. Naturally, a live-action adaptation boasts the potential of being a huge event-esque movie. However, Netflix’s involvement presents the risk of dampening its big-screen prospects, given its adherence to streaming over theatrical releases.
A still from Mobile Suit Gundam | Credit: Bandai Namco Filmworks
Even though the streamer has wormed its way into theatrical releases in recent years, the concept of a traditional wide release remains foreign to its strategy. Moreover, the theatrical windows for Netflix movies are often limited to select US markets. And if a similar outcome holds for the adaptation, this could seriously hurt the movie’s revenue and cultural impact, especially in the Japanese market, as losing that would be nothing short of a nightmare.
Although it is still too early to determine whether Netflix will ultimately curtail the movie’s box-office potential or commit to a wider theatrical release, given the streamer’s track record, it’s reasonable to be skeptical.
Are you excited for the upcoming Gundam adaptation? Share your thoughts below!
No release date for the adaptation has been made public.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
