‘Gundam’ live-action director says Legendary is the only studio capable of making it happen
Emily Baldwin Last week, Netflix announced that a live-action Gundam feature film is in the works, a collaboration with Legendary Entertainment and Sunrise. Heading the project is Jordan Vogt-Roberts (of Kong: Skull Island fame) as director, while comic author Robert K. Vaughn (Saga) is writing the original script.
Recommended VideosVogt-Roberts took to Twitter last night for the first time since the announcement, sharing some propitious words on the platform. The director called the project “an absolute dream,” and praised the collaboration of Legendary and Netflix with Sunrise, the owners of the multi-billion-dollar Gundam IP.
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM
“The people of Earth do nothing but pollute it. Their souls are weighed down by gravity.”
It’s an absolute dream to reunite with my filmmaking family at @Legendary as we partner with @netflix – the only studio capable of birthing a @SUNRISEINC7 #GundamMovie.
— (((Jordan Vogt-Roberts))) (@VogtRoberts) November 17, 2021
The quote shared in the message has fueled much speculation and excitement online. It’s from the series’ original antagonist, Char Aznable, taken from Char’s Counterattack.
The people of Earth do nothing but pollute it. Their souls are weighed down by gravity.
It caught the attention of many fans wondering what the story will be about or where in Gundam’s sprawling timeline(s) the film will be set. Char’s Counterattack, released in 1988, was Gundam’s first theatrical release and the franchise’s first conclusion, culminating in a decisive battle between the Earth Federation and Newborn Neo Zeon heroes Amuro Ray and Char.
While there have been many movies since, Vogt-Robert’s Gundam will be another first for the franchise as a live-action feature.
In another Tweet, Vogt-Roberts shared the eye-catching concept art we first saw at the Netflix Japan Festival last week.
SEIG ZEON! SEIG ZEON!
Anyone who knows me knows that concept artists are absolute titans to me. I would switch jobs with them in a heartbeat. Thus I take great joy in letting the world see the work of the great Stephen Zavala at @ILMVFX. An absolute wizard surrounded by wizards
— (((Jordan Vogt-Roberts))) (@VogtRoberts) November 17, 2021
The fiery mobile suit was illustrated by ILM’s Stephen Zavala, who worked on concept art for everything ranging from Star Wars’ sequel trilogy to Pacific Rim: Uprising to Bumblebee. All of which goes to show that Netflix is giving Gundam the star treatment with the incredible crew already working on it.
