Jason Clarke Boards Legendary’s Live-Action GUNDAM Movie as Project Eyes Netflix
Legendary’s long-gestating live-action Gundam movie just added another heavy hitter to its cast. Jason Clarke is officially joining the sci-fi epic alongside Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo, and the project is reportedly setting its sights on Netflix as a potential home.
According to Deadline, Clarke has signed on for a role in the film, though details about his character are being kept under wraps. The plot is also locked down tight for now. Reps for Netflix and Legendary declined comment, so for the moment, we’re left speculating about how this massive mech saga will translate to live-action.
The film is being co-developed by Legendary and Bandai Namco Filmworks, the franchise owner, and it marks the first live-action adaptation of the legendary property.
Sweet Tooth showrunner Jim Mickle is directing from his own script and will produce alongside his partner Linda Moran under their Nightshade banner. Centineo is also producing with his partner Enzo Marc, so this isn’t just a starring gig for him. He’s helping shape the project from the ground up.
Gundam is the granddaddy of the “mecha” genre. It launched with Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979, created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, and helped define giant robot warfare storytelling in anime.
Since then, it’s grown into a global multimedia empire spanning series, films, model kits, video games, and more. The franchise reportedly generates over $600 million annually, which gives you an idea of just how massive this brand is.
Legendary first announced it was developing a Gundam movie back in spring 2021. At the time, Jordan Vogt-Roberts was attached to direct following his work on Kong: Skull Island, but he has since moved on.
Clarke recently reunited with his Zero Dark Thirty director Kathryn Bigelow on the Netflix political thriller A House of Dynamite. Last year, he portrayed convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh in Hulu’s limited series Murdaugh: Death in the Family, delivering a chilling performance. He also just wrapped production on the Warner Bros. action-thriller F.A.S.T., written by Taylor Sheridan.
It’s easy to imagine Clarke stepping into a hardened military commander role or a morally conflicted figure in the middle of an interstellar war. That’s pure speculation for now, but the guy thrives in intense, high-stakes worlds, and Gundam is exactly that.
Between giant war machines, political intrigue, and human drama, this movie has all the ingredients for something seriously cool. Now we just need that first official look at those mobile suits in live-action.
Source: Deadline