Some things were born for the big screen. Marvel and its cinematic universe definitely fits the bill, as does Star Wars (despite the franchise’s relative success on streamers like Disney+). But lately those juggernauts have struggled to maintain their foothold at the box office, and the same might be said for an even bigger risk — like the live-action reboot of a beloved anime. That might not be the only reason why something as enduring as Gundam has gone from Legendary Pictures, the same studio behind other mecha movies like Pacific Rim, to Netflix... but it can’t be discounted, either.
Watching Netflix roll out the red carpet for a live-action Gundam movie feels almost fantastical. The streamer is no stranger to blockbuster fare: it’s churned out a handful of compelling actioners and sci-fi epics that easily could have dominated on a big screen. But Gundam might be their wildest gamble yet. The first live-action installment of a decades-spanning giant robot franchise, it won’t be easy to appease longtime fans and bring in new ones. With its buzzy, recently announced cast, Netflix is hoping to put its best foot forward. Whether it can defy the odds for well-meaning anime adaptations remains a mystery — but for now, here’s everything we know about Netflix’s Gundam movie.
