Noah Centineo in Talks to Join Sydney Sweeney in Legendary’s ‘Gundam’ Movie – The Hollywood Reporter

Lead: Noah Centineo is in negotiations to join Sydney Sweeney as a lead in Legendary Pictures’ live-action adaptation of Gundam, according to reporting on Nov. 21, 2025. The sci‑fi feature is being directed and scripted by Jim Mickle, known for creating Netflix’s Sweet Tooth, and remains untitled. If the deal closes Centineo would reteam with Legendary while also preparing other high-profile projects. Legendary declined to comment publicly on casting talks.

Key Takeaways

• Noah Centineo is in talks to co‑star with Sydney Sweeney in Legendary’s live‑action Gundam film, per reporting dated Nov. 21, 2025.
• Jim Mickle wrote the screenplay and will direct; he is best known for showrunning Netflix’s Sweet Tooth.
• The project is untitled and centers on Sweeney’s character; sources say she is actively involved in casting choices.
• Legendary previously engaged with Drew Starkey for the male lead, but those discussions did not conclude.
• Centineo is simultaneously shooting Street Fighter (Paramount, scheduled Oct. 16, 2026) and prepping a Rambo prequel early in the new year.
• Gundam originated as an anime in 1979 set in the Universal Century and features large piloted robots known as mecha.
• Legendary chose not to comment on negotiations, citing sensitivities around ongoing casting conversations.

Background

Gundam began as an animated franchise in 1979 and has since become one of Japan’s defining science‑fiction properties. The original narrative unfolds in the Universal Century, a timeline in which humanity expands into orbital colonies to relieve Earth’s population pressures; tensions between Earth and the colonies escalate into open war. Central to the saga are mecha—giant piloted machines—used as weapons and symbols of political and personal conflict. Over decades Gundam has spawned series, films, model lines and an international fanbase, making any live‑action adaptation commercially and culturally consequential.

Legendary’s move into Gundam follows a wider trend of major studios pursuing adaptations of established anime IP for global markets. Live‑action conversions carry built‑in audience expectations in Japan and increasingly worldwide, while also presenting creative and logistical challenges: translating stylized animation, balancing lore fidelity with mainstream accessibility, and mounting effects‑heavy production at scale. Jim Mickle’s attachment as writer‑director brings a TV background and an emphasis on character work, which producers may view as a hedge against spectacle‑only approaches.

Main Event

According to industry reporting on Nov. 21, 2025, Noah Centineo has entered talks to play the male lead opposite Sydney Sweeney in Legendary’s Gundam feature. The film is described as centering on Sweeney’s character, with the male lead positioned on an opposing side in a planetary conflict—a dynamic likened in coverage to a Romeo‑and‑Juliet set piece within a war between planets. Sources say Sweeney has significant input on casting choices for actors playing opposite her.

Jim Mickle, who created Netflix’s Sweet Tooth and wrote this Gundam script, is directing the adaptation. Mickle’s involvement as both writer and director signals a singular creative vision at the top, though the script and production remain in active development. Legendary, the studio developing the film, declined to comment on the status of the negotiations, citing sensitivities tied to ongoing dealmaking.

Earlier casting conversations reportedly included Outer Banks actor Drew Starkey as a candidate for the male lead, but those talks did not reach a finalized agreement. If Centineo’s negotiation concludes successfully, the role would join his recent slate that includes a starring role in Street Fighter (Paramount, Oct. 16, 2026) and ensemble work in A24’s Warfare (2025). Industry observers view the film as a high‑risk, high‑reward tentpole that will test Legendary’s capacity to adapt anime IP for global theatrical audiences.

Analysis & Implications

Securing a recognizable young lead like Noah Centineo would give Legendary a mainstream draw with proven streaming appeal; Centineo rose to prominence via Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and has since expanded into genre fare, including a supporting super‑hero role in Black Adam. Casting choices will influence both domestic box‑office potential and international reception—particularly in Japan, where Gundam is a cultural touchstone. Producers must weigh star power against fan expectations for authenticity.

Jim Mickle’s dual role as writer and director suggests the studio is prioritizing narrative coherence over purely visual spectacle. That approach can mitigate the common criticism that anime adaptations reduce complex source material to effects showcases. However, delivering on the franchise’s technical demands—grand-scale mecha battles, realistic worldbuilding and cross‑planetary stakes—will require a substantial budget and VFX pipeline, factors that escalate both cost and scheduling risk.

For Centineo, joining Gundam would continue an industry trajectory from streaming rom‑com lead to franchise‑level genre projects, potentially broadening his market profile. For Legendary, a successful Gundam adaptation could open a global franchise opportunity and strengthen the studio’s position in tentpole IP conversions. Conversely, a poorly received adaptation could dampen momentum for similar projects and complicate transpacific collaborations.

Comparison & Data

The table places Centineo’s potential Gundam casting in the context of his recent trajectory. The mix of streaming, studio and indie projects illustrates his cross‑market appeal; Gundam would represent his most effects‑intensive leading studio project to date if the deal closes.

Reactions & Quotes

“We have no public comment on ongoing casting conversations,” a studio spokesperson said when asked about the negotiations.

Legendary (studio representative)

“Adapting Gundam requires balancing deep franchise lore with mainstream storytelling—getting the leads right is crucial,” an industry casting executive noted on the condition of anonymity.

Industry casting executive (anonymized)

“Fans will be watching closely for fidelity to the Universal Century and how the filmmakers handle the mecha,” a Gundam community moderator said in online discussion.

Gundam fan community representative

Unconfirmed

• Centineo’s contract is not finalized; reports indicate talks but no closed deal as of Nov. 21, 2025.
• The precise nature and scope of Sydney Sweeney’s casting involvement remain described by sources as influential but are not independently verified.
• Details about the film’s production schedule, budget and release window have not been publicly disclosed.

Bottom Line

If Noah Centineo completes a deal to co‑star with Sydney Sweeney, Legendary’s Gundam will combine mainstream star casting with a director who wrote the screenplay, signaling a character‑driven take on a high‑concept property. That combination can broaden appeal beyond dedicated fans, but it also raises the stakes for fidelity to source material and execution of complex visual effects.

For Centineo, the project would mark a step deeper into franchise and action territory and align with his recent slate of studio and indie work. For Legendary and the wider industry, Gundam represents another test of how major Western studios can adapt treasured anime IP without alienating core fanbases—an outcome that will hinge on casting, creative choices and production craft.

Sources

• The Hollywood Reporter (Entertainment news report — primary coverage of casting talks)
• Gundam.info (Official franchise site — background on the franchise and Universal Century)