After months of silence surrounding the Mobile Suit Gundam live-action adaptation, Sydney Sweeney has finally offered a small but significant update that has fans breathing a sigh of relief. In an interview, when asked about any movement on the project, Sweeney told MovieWeb, “There is every single day.” Though brief, her words confirm that the long-anticipated film is still in motion and Sweeney is still on board for what could become her most ambitious role to date.
The project has been in development limbo for years — Legendary, Bandai, and Namco first announced the collaboration back in 2018. The Gundam franchise, valued at over $1 billion annually thanks to its anime, films, and toys, remains one of Japan’s most iconic exports. The live-action adaptation, directed by Sweet Tooth showrunner Jim Mickle, is expected to bring a grounded, high-stakes realism to the mecha saga that redefined the real robot genre in 1979.
While no filming date has been set, Sweeney’s comment hints that internal, pre-production progress is happening behind the scenes. This update also comes at a pivotal career moment for Sweeney. Following a string of underperforming releases, including her sports biopic Christy, Gundam could mark her biggest opportunity to dominate the sci-fi blockbuster space.
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Alongside Sweeney, the Gundam film is assembling an intriguing creative and acting team. Singer-songwriter Benson Boone and Outer Banks star Drew Starkey are the only other confirmed cast members so far. Mickle helms the movie as both director and writer after Netflix and Jordan Vogt-Roberts exited the project in late 2024. The screenplay was originally developed by Saga and Y: The Last Man creator Brian K. Vaughan, who remains an executive producer.
The Gundam universe itself, first created by Yoshiyuki Tomino in 1979, has grown into one of Japan’s most valuable sci-fi properties, spanning more than 50 TV series, films, and OVAs, plus the globally popular Gunpla model line. Considering the grandeur of the franchise, the delay since 2018, and Sweeney’s latest comment indicating daily progress, it appears that practical effects and large-scale mech sequences will likely be prioritized over heavy CGI. This is especially important given that the franchise has always thrived on moral complexity rather than clear-cut notions of good and evil — meaning the live-action adaptation must come out strong to preserve that depth and deliver its full emotional impact.
There are no more updates on Mobile Suit Gundam live-action for now. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Release Date
1979 – 1980
Network
Nagoya TV
Hirotaka Suzuoki
Gihren Zabi (voice)
Tôru Furuya
Degwin Sodo Zabi (voice)
