The anime franchise that began with 'Mobile Suit Gundam' is finally getting a live-action adaptation.
The news was announced by Legendary Pictures yesterday evening in Los Angeles, confirming long-held rumours that a major studio was interested in turning the long-running anime into a reality. No plot details have been announced as of yet, and no directors, stars or screenwriters have been attached, but given the huge influence 'Gundam' has had on the likes of Guillermo del Toro, Michael Bay and countless other movies, there won't be any trouble attracting attention to it.
The series began in 1979 with 'Mobile Suit Gundam', and follows a teenage mechanic named Amuro Ray who works as a civilian mechanic on giant, piloted robots and finds himself drafted in to pilot the RX-78-2 Gundam - which just so happened to be designed by his father. After the Principality of Zeon - an off-world colony - declares its independence from the Earth Federation and a series of battles take place in the fight. Games such as 'Titanfall' and films like 'Pacific Rim' have taken inspiration from the series, and it's been pretty successful on its own.
'Mobile Suit Gundam' was one of the most popular anime series ever released in the US, and the resulting toylines and spinoffs that came from the original series were enough to keep it going for nearly 40 years.
Here's a little teaser of the original series, just to give you an idea.
