Sydney Sweeney Nears Deal for Lead in Live-Action Gundam Film

Sydney Sweeney, the star of the film "Madame Web," is reportedly in the final stages of negotiations to take a leading role in the upcoming live-action adaptation of the iconic anime and toy franchise, Mobile Suit Gundam. The project, which has entered production following an agreement between Bandai Namco and Legendary to co-finance it, is set to be written and directed by Kim Mickle, the showrunner of Sweet Tooth. Although the film currently lacks an official title, a teaser poster has been released to generate excitement among fans.

While plot and character details remain under wraps, Sweeney's involvement was confirmed by Variety. Known for her roles in HBO's "Euphoria," "The White Lotus," "Reality," "Anyone but You," and the superhero film "Madame Web," Sweeney continues to expand her portfolio. Recently, she was also attached to star in and produce a film adaptation of a horror story originally shared on a Reddit thread.

Legendary and Bandai Namco have expressed their intention to steadily release more information as details are finalized. They emphasized the significance of the original "Mobile Suit Gundam" series, which first aired in 1979. The show pioneered the 'real robot anime' genre, moving away from traditional narratives of good versus evil to focus on realistic portrayals of war, detailed scientific explorations, and complex human dramas. The series, treating robots as 'mobile suits' or weapons, sparked a significant cultural phenomenon.

Gundam movie teaser poster.

Sydney Sweeney looks set to star in the Gundam movie. Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Vanity Fair.