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Gold Coast production facilities are hosting one of the biggest international film projects to land in Queensland, with Netflix's live-action feature movie Gundam expected to inject an estimated $110 million into the state's economy and employ more than 350 local cast and crew.
The film, directed by Jim Mickle (Sweet Tooth, Cold in July), is produced by Legendary Pictures in partnership with Bandai Namco Filmworks and stars Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo as rival mech pilots in an original story set during a war between Earth and its former space colonies.
Gundam is one of Japan's most iconic media franchises, spanning animated television series, manga and a vast toy and model kit line since its debut in 1979.
The live-action adaptation, which is written and directed by Jim Mickle (Sweet Tooth, Cold in July), marks the first time the franchise has been brought to the big screen in a non-animated format.
The film, which also stars Jason Isaacs, Shioli Kutsuna, Michael Mando and Ida Brooke, is set in a universe where humans have colonised space but the relationship between Earth and its orbital colonies has fractured into open conflict.
Sweeney and Centineo play pilots on opposite sides of the war who are forced to confront each other across the battlefield.
Production is now under way ion the Gold Coast, continuing Legendary Pictures' decade-long relationship with Queensland.
The studio's projects have collectively contributed more than $328 million to the Queensland economy over that period.
Queensland Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek says the production underscores the state's growing reputation as a global filmmaking hub, aided by the state's Production Attraction Strategy.
“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," says Langbroek.
“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.”
Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney says the project builds on a long-standing partnership between the state agency and Legendary Pictures.
“Legendary’s continued trust in Queensland to create exceptional world-building environments is a testament to our experienced crews, first-class studios, versatile locations and competitive incentives supported by all levels of government," says Feeney.
“Projects of scale across the ‘Monsterverse’ and now Gundam also provide invaluable career pathways through our Attachment program to expand Queensland’s crew base, with emerging screen practitioners having the chance to hone their skills on set, guided by our highly experienced local industry veterans.”
Herb Gains, the executive vice president of physical production at Legendary, has praised the production environment Queensland offers international studios.
“Queensland has become an important production centre for Legendary for the past 10 years," says Gains.
"The crews, facilities, as well as the government support have proven to be great partners and problem solvers for our Monsterverse films.
"The friendships that have developed with the community have made Queensland a second home and we look forward to expanding the relationship with Gundam.”
Netflix will release the film globally, although no release date has been confirmed.
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