New Details Surface on The Live-Action GUNDAM Film and The Pitfalls it Will Avoid

A couple of weeks ago we learned that Sunrise had teamed up with Legendary Pictures was developing a live-action feature film adaptation of Mobile Suit Gundam. There wasn't a lot of information revealed about the project when it was initially announced, but today we've learned a few new details that might make fans happy.

During an interview with Weekly Playboy (via Gundam Universe), Sunrise President Yasuo Miyakawa revealed that Sunrise has maintained almost all of the control over the adaptation. That control was a requirement for Sunrise to agree to the project. Obviously, Legendary will act as an active collaboration on the project, and Miyakawa says their relationship there will be a genuine one. It's explained that the film will not be a "Sunrise movie, nor a legendary movie, it will be a real collaboration."

Miyakawa is well aware of how the live-action adaptation of anime is being received, saying:

"The president of Sunrise is aware of the criticisms about the live-action production. He isn’t ignoring the many fans and critics wondering if this film will really be a Gundam movie or just take the name."

The report goes on to reveal what the creative team is planning for the film, saying, they will "try to avoid a simplistically military character to history and especially to the protagonists. And also to turn the latter into a kind of superhero. " The movie will also not be about heroic soldiers engaged in heroic actions but, it will probably be a film based on normal people in an extraordinary context and faithful to the basic principles of the Gundam."

So far, I like what I'm hearing. I really hope that the creative team they bring on to develop this movie will be able to effectively pull off the vision of the film the Sunrise and Legendary have for it. 

The original Gundam series is set in the Universal Century, an era in which humanity’s growing population has led people to emigrate to space colonies. Eventually, the people living in the colonies seek their autonomy, and launch a war of independence against the people living on Earth. Through the tragedies and discord arising from this human conflict, not only the maturation of the main character, but also the intentions of enemies and the surrounding people are sensitively depicted.

I can't wait to see Mobile Suit Gundam on the big screen! There's no doubt it's going to be visually stunning. What are your thoughts on what the studios are looking to do with the property?