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EXCLUSIVE: Sweet Tooth showrunner Jim Mickle is coming on to write and direct a live-action adaptation of Gundam, which has been co-developed between Legendary and Bandai Namco Filmworks. Mickle will also produce with his partner Linda Moran through their company Nightshade.
One of the most revered animé, Gundam is thought of as the Star Wars or Marvel Universe of Japan, and is the pioneer of the mecha genre of IP. The plot is currently under wraps, but the film is looking to start production in early 2025.
Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, Gundam is an internationally renowned franchise spanning 83 animated series and movies. Its toy and retail business are huge, with the Gundam franchise generating over $600 million annually. This will be its first live-action film.
Legendary has been high on this priority for some time and one point was working on a movie with Netflix and Jordan Vogt-Roberts but both the streamer and Vogt-Roberts are no longer involved.
Most recently Mickle was director, showrunner, and writer of Netflix’s acclaimed series Sweet Tooth, based on Jeff Lemire’s Vertigo comic and co-produced with Team Downey. Mickle led the series to a 97% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 20 Emmy nominations over its three seasons, winning four awards.
Mickle launched onto the scene with the horror film Stake Land, which won the Midnight Madness award at the Toronto International Film Festival. His follow up, We Are What We Are, premiered in the Midnight Section of the Sundance Film Festival, followed by its European premiere in the prestigious Director’s Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival.
He also directed Cold In July, a southern noir thriller, premiered to rave reviews at both Cannes and Sundance. Mickle also co-created the critically acclaimed series Hap and Leonard for Sundance TV and AMC.
Mickle is represented by CAA, Untitled, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett Kole.
