Sydney Sweeney, known for her roles in HBO's Euphoria, The White Lotus, and the recent superhero film Madame Web, is reportedly in the final stages of negotiations to star in the live-action adaptation of the iconic anime and toy franchise, Mobile Suit Gundam. The project, which entered production in February, is a collaboration between Bandai Namco and Legendary, who have signed an agreement to co-finance the film.
While the movie currently lacks an official title, it is set to be written and directed by Kim Mickle, the showrunner of Sweet Tooth. The film is slated for a global theatrical release, though specific release dates and plot details remain under wraps. A teaser poster has been released, hinting at the excitement to come.
Variety was the first to report on Sweeney's involvement with the Gundam project, although specifics about her character and the plot are yet to be disclosed. Sweeney, who has also been attached to a horror movie based on a Reddit thread, continues to expand her portfolio with diverse and high-profile projects.
Legendary and Bandai Namco have stated their intention to release further details as they are finalized. The original Mobile Suit Gundam series, which premiered in 1979, revolutionized the genre of 'real robot anime.' It moved away from the traditional portrayal of good versus evil in robot anime, instead offering realistic depictions of war, detailed scientific examinations, and complex human dramas centered around the use of 'mobile suits' as weapons. This groundbreaking approach sparked a significant cultural phenomenon.