Netflix's long-in-development live-action Gundam film has finally offered a glimpse into its narrative, with star Noah Centineo describing it as a "big action romance space movie." Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Centineo elaborated that the film functions as a "non-Shakespearean Romeo and Juliet in space," suggesting a story centered on star-crossed lovers caught in a significant conflict, a theme frequently explored within the established Gundam lore.
An early official synopsis aligns with this description, stating the film will feature "shifting allegiances and a growing threat" that pulls characters into "a high-stakes race across the stars that could define the fate of humanity." The synopsis also promises "awe-inspiring battles, intimate human emotion, and an epic cinematic scale."
Centineo confirmed that the film will be set in the Universal Century timeline, the era from which many of the franchise's most iconic series and movies originate, including the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Concept art released in 2021, prior to director Jordan Vogt-Roberts being replaced by Jim Mickle, depicted the RX-78-2 Gundam suit from the original series.
Joining Centineo and Sydney Sweeney in the cast are Jason Isaacs, Michael Mando, Jackson White, Shioli Kutsuna, Nonso Anozie, Javon “Wanna” Walton, Oleksandr Rudynskyi, Ida Brooke, and Gemma Chua-Tran. Filming concluded in July, though Netflix has yet to announce a release date.
Fans of the franchise have multiple Gundam-related projects on the horizon. In addition to the live-action movie, the animated series Mobile Suit Gundam RG XARX-ZERO is slated for a 2027 release, and a game titled Gundam Rogue Orbit is expected next year.