The live-actionGundammovie has gotten a new director.Gundamis a Japanese science-fiction franchise created by Yohsiyuki Tomino. It is a military-centric franchise about giant robots collectively deemed Gundam. They first appeared in the 1979 TV series,Mobile Suit Gundam. Over the years, theGundamanime universehas been subject to dozens of interpretations. These have included TV series in every decade since the initial release ofMobile Suit Gundam, as well as the recent seriesGundam: Requiem for Vengeance.
As perDeadline, the live-actionGundammovie has now gotten a new director in Jim Mickle. In addition to helming the film, Mickle will also write and produce the project. The live-action film will be co-developed by Legendary and Bandai Namco Filmworks. In addition to Mickle, the project will also be produced by Linda Moran. TheGundamfilm will likely start production early next year, but its plot is currently under wraps.
What This Means For The Live-Action Gundam Movie
Gundam Experienced A Major Production Team Change
The announcement of Mickle’s direction comes as a surprise for the live-actionGundammovie. At one point, the project was announced to be in development at Netflix. With the streamer, the movie would have been directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. This dynamic appears to have changed completely as neither Netflix nor Vogt-Roberts are still involved in the project. While the source says thatGundamis still a priority forLegendary, the movie is now going to look a lot different from its original iteration.
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ForGundam, losing Vogt-Roberts means missing out on a director whose work has been essential to the Hollywood MonsterVerse, as he helmed 2017’sKong: Skull Island. Still, Legendary is not making a bad choice in choosing Mickle for the new director. The director has experience with adaptation, having previously worked on theNetflix seriesSweet Tooth. Mickle’s other past projects includeMulberry St,We Are What We Are, andCold in July. He may not have worked on any movie as big asKong Skull Island, but he is still an experienced director.
Our Take On The Gundam Director Change-Up
This Big Change Could Cause Delays
While the report slates theGundammovie’s filming for early next year, the major changes in the production team may not be good for the project. The live-actionGundamhas already been in development for a while. Changing the film’s director will completely alter the vision for the project, and thus be more likely to cause additional development delays. As a result, thisGundamproject could overall come a lot later than both Legendary andGundamfans would have wanted.
Gundam
The Gundam franchise is a cornerstone of mecha anime, featuring giant robots known as “mobile suits” in various wartime settings. Originating with Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979, it explores complex themes of war, politics, and humanity through the struggles of pilots who navigate these massive machines. The franchise spans multiple timelines and universes, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected stories and standalone narratives.
