AceShowbiz - Production has officially started on the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the iconic anime franchise Gundam, with Sydney Sweeney set to lead the cast. The filming is currently underway in Queensland, Australia, marking a significant milestone as this will be the first live-action interpretation of the beloved series that began in 1979.

Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo were previously confirmed as the primary leads, joined by a strong ensemble including Michael Mando, Gemma Chua-Tran, and Shioli Kutsuna. Recent casting updates have also added Jason Isaacs, Nonso Anozie, Javon Walton, Jackson White, Ida Brooke, and Oleksandr Rudynskyi to the roster, further strengthening the project's star power.

The live-action Gundam film will explore a fresh narrative centered on rival mech pilots caught in a long-standing war between Earth and its space colonies. This conflict-driven story promises a blend of intense battles, personal drama, and large-scale cinematic spectacle. The official synopsis reads:

"As shifting allegiances and a growing threat set them on a collision course for one another, they're pulled into a high-stakes race across the stars that could define the fate of humanity. With awe-inspiring battles, intimate human emotion, and an epic cinematic scale, this is Gundam like it's been seen before."

Directing the film is Jim Mickle, renowned for his work as creator and co-showrunner of Netflix’s Sweet Tooth. Mickle brings valuable experience in adapting popular source material to screen, as Sweet Tooth was originally a comic book series. Notably, Nonso Anozie, who stars in the new Gundam film, previously worked with Mickle on Sweet Tooth, marking a reunion between director and actor.

This project marks a major expansion for the Gundam franchise, which has continuously released new content since its inception over four decades ago. The live-action format is expected to introduce the series to a broader global audience. Legendary Pictures is producing the film alongside Bandai Namco Filmworks, with Mickle and his partner Linda Moran producing through their company Nightshade. In addition to starring, Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo are also involved as producers.

Sydney Sweeney is currently enjoying a busy career. Her late 2025 film The Housemaid was a box office hit that secured a sequel titled The Housemaid’s Secret. She also stars in HBO’s Euphoria season 3 and is associated with other projects such as a film adaptation of Edith Wharton’s novel Custom of the Country, the video game adaptation Split Fiction directed by Jon M. Chu, and the thriller I Pretended to Be a Missing Girl.

Beyond Sweeney and Anozie, the rest of the cast boasts impressive credentials. Noah Centineo recently appeared in Netflix’s The Recruit, Michael Mando featured in Better Call Saul, and Jason Isaacs is known for his roles in the Harry Potter film series. Jackson White stars in Tell Me Lies, Shioli Kutsuna appeared in Deadpool and Wolverine, Javon Walton was seen in Under the Bridge, Oleksandr Rudynskyi appeared in The Agency, Gemma Chua-Tran is in Heartbreak High, and Ida Brooke is set for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three.

The original Gundam anime, created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, first aired on April 7, 1979, and has since become a cornerstone of mech and sci-fi storytelling. Its first film adaptation was Mobile Suit Gundam I, with numerous series and spin-offs following, including the latest TV show Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury.

With a talented cast, an experienced director, and a storied franchise behind it, the live-action Gundam movie is poised to be a landmark production for Netflix and the sci-fi genre. Fans of the anime and newcomers alike can look forward to an epic cinematic experience that honors the spirit of the original while delivering fresh storytelling for a new generation.