Gundam fans have finally been given their first look at the series' upcoming live-action movie.
Netflix released the first image from the movie, which will stream exclusively on the service once it is released. The image shows the familiar silhouette of the series' original flagship mobile suit, the RX-78-2 Gundam, emerging from a wall of flames. If the concept art is anything to go by, it seems like the upcoming movie will feature fairly faithful recreations of the anime's iconic mecha designs, though the Gundam's shoulder armor and vents do look like they've been redesigned. The concept art is the first image from the movie to be released. The live-action Gundam film was originally announced by production company Legendary Pictures at Anime Expo 2018.
The new, still untitled movie will be directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, who previously directed Kong: Skull Island and is also directing the upcoming Metal Gear Solid movie. Comic book writer Brian K. Vaughan, who is best known for his work on Y: The Last Man and the critically acclaimed sci-fi series Saga, is attached to write the movie's script. The movie will be produced by Legendary Pictures' Mary Parent and Cale Boyter, alongside Naohiroshi Ogata from studio Sunrise, the animation company that has produced most of the Gundam anime. While the concept art suggests that the movie will be based on the series' original Universal Century continuity, Vogt-Roberts suggested in previous interviews that the movie will draw elements from multiple branches of the long-running mecha franchise. "[The movie] may be an amalgamation of several of these different things, different timelines and what not," Vogt-Roberts told Entertainment Weekly last summer.
The live-action movie is Netflix's latest investment in Bandai and Sunrise's iconic giant robot series. The latest Gundam animated movie, Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway, made its international debut this summer as a Netflix exclusive. The movie is a direct sequel to the highly influential 1988 Char's Counterattack, which is now also available for streaming through Netflix's service, along with several other classic entries in the franchise. Hathaway was a critical and commercial success, becoming the second highest grossing film in the franchise's history.
As many American entertainment companies launch their own competing streaming services, Netflix has turned to international studios to fill out its content catalog and has invested heavily in the anime industry in recent years. In addition to financing original works such as Yasuke, the company has licensed several other high profile anime eries, including the upcoming new season of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and the new comedy series Komi Can't Communicate.
Source: Netflix
