Legendary Pictures has returned to the Gold Coast to begin filming the highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the iconic mech franchise, Gundam.
Directed and written by Jim Mickle, the Netflix and Legendary Pictures production is set against a backdrop of war between Earth and its former space colonies. The film stars Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo as rival maverick mech pilots forced to team up in a race across the stars to ensure humanity’s survival.
They are joined by an expansive ensemble cast, including Jason Isaacs, Michael Mando, Shioli Kutsuna, Jackson White, and Nonso Anozie. The production continues Legendary’s decade-long relationship with Queensland, which has seen the studio shoot major projects like Godzilla x Kong: Supernova and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters in the state.
The economic impact of the production is significant. Filming at Village Roadshow Studios is expected to inject an estimated $110 million directly into Queensland’s economy. According to Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek, the project will employ more than 350 local cast and crew members.
“We know that our production incentive ensures that Queensland remains globally competitive, with a strong pipeline of major projects delivering ongoing employment and expenditure for local communities.
“During filming at Village Roadshow Studios, Gundam will inject an estimated $110 million directly into Queensland’s economy by employing more than 350 local cast and crew and engaging a supply chain of small businesses across a range of connected industries.
“Over the last 10 years, Legendary has consistently turned to Queensland for their ambitious projects, with titles including Pacific Rim Uprising, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and four ‘Monsterverse’ features collectively contributing more than $328 million to the local economy, in addition to Gundam.”
“We know that our production incentive ensures that Queensland remains globally competitive, with a strong pipeline of major projects delivering ongoing employment and expenditure for local communities,” Langbroek said.
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney highlighted that Legendary’s continued trust is a testament to the state’s first-class studios and experienced crews. The production also provides career pathways for emerging screen practitioners through an attachment programme.
Legendary’s EVP of Physical Production, Herb Gains, noted that the state has become an important production centre for the studio over the past 10 years. “The friendships that have developed with the community have made Queensland a second home and we look forward to expanding the relationship with Gundam,” Gains said.
With a 47-year legacy, the original giant robot phenomenon is preparing for a new cinematic scale, bringing awe-inspiring battles and intimate human emotion to the screen.
