Production has officially started on the live-action adaptation of Mobile Suit Gundam, with filming now underway in Queensland, Australia. The project is being developed for Netflix and marks a major new entry for one of the most influential mecha franchises in anime and gaming history.

The film stars Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo in leading roles, with a broader ensemble cast featuring actors from major franchises such as The White Lotus, Dune: Part Three, and Deadpool & Wolverine. The movie is directed by Jim Mickle, known for his work on Sweet Tooth.

A New Original Story Set in a Space War

The live-action Gundam film will not directly adapt a specific anime series. Instead, it introduces an original story set during a long-running conflict between Earth and its space colonies.

The plot follows rival mobile suit pilots fighting on opposing sides of a decades-long war. However, shifting alliances begin to blur the lines between friend and enemy. As a result, both characters are drawn into a larger conflict that could determine the fate of humanity.

The story will feature large-scale mecha battles, space warfare, and a more grounded human narrative beneath the futuristic setting. Netflix and the production team aim to balance emotional storytelling with large cinematic action sequences.

Star-Studded Cast Across Major Film Franchises

Alongside Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo, the cast includes several notable actors from recent high-profile films and television series.

The ensemble includes Shioli Kutsuna, Nonso Anozie, Michael Mando, Javon Walton, Jason Isaacs, and others. Additionally, actors associated with projects such as The White Lotus, Dune: Part Three, and Sweet Tooth are also part of the lineup.

This casting approach signals a strong focus on ensemble storytelling rather than a single-character-driven narrative.

Production Backed by Major Studios

The film is produced by Legendary Pictures in partnership with Bandai Namco Filmworks and Netflix. Director Jim Mickle also serves as a producer alongside Linda Moran and several additional industry producers.

Filming takes place in Queensland, Australia, which provides large-scale landscapes suitable for both Earth-based and space colony environments. Production teams are also expected to incorporate extensive visual effects work to bring the mobile suit battles to life.

Bringing Gundam to Live-Action for a New Audience

The Gundam franchise has existed for decades across anime, model kits, and video games. This live-action adaptation aims to introduce the series to a wider global audience while preserving its core themes of war, identity, and technological conflict.

The film emphasizes large-scale mobile suit combat alongside human drama. Therefore, it attempts to balance spectacle with character-driven storytelling.

With production now officially underway, the Netflix live-action Gundam film marks one of the most ambitious adaptations of a Japanese mecha franchise to date.