Netflix’s long-awaited live-action Mobile Suit Gundam movie is apparently going to be more than giant robots fighting across space.
Noah Centineo, who stars in the upcoming movie alongside Sydney Sweeney, recently offered one of the clearest descriptions yet of the project, calling it a “big action romance space movie.” He went even further, describing the film as a “non-Shakespearean Romeo and Juliet in space.”
And honestly, that is probably not the description most Gundam fans were expecting.
Noah Centineo Calls Gundam a “Romeo and Juliet in Space”
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast hosted by Josh Horowitz, Centineo was asked about the long-awaited live-action Gundam movie.
While the project has been surrounded by secrecy, Centineo gave fans a small glimpse at what they can expect from the film.
He described it as a:
“Big action romance space movie.”
Centineo then compared the movie to:
“A non-Shakespearean Romeo and Juliet in space.”
It is certainly an unusual way to describe Mobile Suit Gundam, but the comparison immediately raises some interesting possibilities.
The franchise has never been afraid of combining massive space battles with deeply personal relationships, so a romance caught in the middle of a larger conflict wouldn’t exactly be out of place in the Gundam universe.
However, Centineo did not reveal specific plot details about the characters or their relationship, so the “Romeo and Juliet” comparison should be treated as his description of the movie rather than an official synopsis.
The Live-Action Gundam Movie Will Be Set in the Universal Century
Perhaps even more interesting for longtime fans, Centineo also confirmed that the live-action movie takes place in the Universal Century.
For Gundam fans, that’s a pretty big deal.
The Universal Century is the main timeline associated with many of the franchise’s most iconic anime series and films, including the original Mobile Suit Gundam.
The original series introduced fans to a future where humanity has expanded into space, with political tensions between Earth and the space colonies eventually developing into massive conflicts fought using mobile suits.
Centineo did not reveal exactly when in the Universal Century the movie will take place.
That leaves a pretty big question hanging over the project.
Will the film adapt an existing period of Gundam history, introduce a completely new story within the Universal Century, or somehow connect its characters to established events?
We still don’t know.
But simply confirming the Universal Century setting gives fans something concrete to work with after years of uncertainty surrounding the project.
The Movie Has Been in Development for Years
The live-action Mobile Suit Gundam movie has had an unusually long road to the big screen.
The project was first announced in 2018, with Legendary Entertainment developing the film in partnership with Bandai Namco Filmworks.
The project later became associated with Netflix, while Kong: Skull Island director Jordan Vogt-Roberts was attached to direct.
That version of the project eventually changed direction, with Vogt-Roberts departing and Jim Mickle taking over as director.
The current film is being directed by Mickle, who is also credited with writing the screenplay.
The movie stars Noah Centineo and Sydney Sweeney, with Jason Isaacs and Michael Mando also among the cast.
Despite the high-profile names attached to it, actual story details have remained extremely limited.
That makes Centineo’s comments particularly interesting.
Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo Lead the Cast
Centineo won’t be carrying the movie alone.
The actor will appear alongside Sydney Sweeney, with Jason Isaacs and Michael Mando also joining the cast.
Sweeney’s involvement has already made the project considerably more visible outside the existing Gundam fanbase, while Centineo’s latest comments are now giving fans their first real hints about the movie’s tone.
Still, there is plenty we don’t know.
Netflix has yet to reveal a full synopsis, the exact Universal Century setting, or how closely the movie will connect to established Gundam characters and events.
For now, all we know is that the filmmakers are taking the franchise into live action while keeping it within the Universal Century.
And apparently, they’re throwing a space romance into the mix.
A “Big Action-Romance” Gundam Movie?
The idea of Gundam being described as a “Romeo and Juliet in space” is definitely going to get fans talking.
The franchise has always been built around war, politics, human relationships and the consequences of conflict, so a romantic story set against a massive space conflict could fit naturally into its world.
But whether that actually means the film will revolve around star-crossed lovers remains unknown.
For now, Centineo’s comments are the closest thing we have to a glimpse at the movie’s direction.
And after years of development, “big action romance space movie” is certainly one way to finally get people talking about Netflix’s Gundam again.
The live-action Mobile Suit Gundam movie currently does not have a confirmed Netflix release date. Filming reportedly wrapped at the end of July, so fans may finally start getting more concrete information about the project soon.
For a franchise that has spent decades fighting wars across the stars, a little Romeo and Juliet drama might actually be the least surprising thing about it.
Source: Happy Sad Confused podcast
