Sydney Sweeney's One Piece Replacement Officially Confirms A New Era For Netflix

Published Sep 26, 2026, 5:15 PM EDT After 18 months at Screen Rant, Guy became Classic TV Editor in September 2026, and specializes in leading features content about shows from decades gone by. Having written for and editing several TV, film and music publications, his areas of expertise include comedy, crime, historical drama, Westerns, and political thrillers. Sydney Sweeney is officially spearheading a new era for Netflix, courtesy of a new sci-fi action blockbuster expected to be released in 2027. Although Sweeney has never been involved in a release of this kind before, her star power should elevate a project that’s had fans of arguably the most influential anime franchise ever created for a very long time. With the Euphoria actor and her main co-star, The Recruit’s Noah Centineo, pulling in financial backing, one of the biggest live-action adaptations of anime in history is full speed ahead. Whenever it drops on Netflix, this adaptation will be looking to emulate the explosive success of the streaming platform original One Piece series over the past three years. Just as it’s done with the Straw Hat Pirate franchise based on Eiichiro Oda’s manga, Netflix is looking to cement its status as the small-screen home of Gundam worldwide. Releasing a live-action movie in the franchise next year, fronted by two of the highest-profile stars of the screen working today, will surely put this status beyond doubt. In addition to Sweeney and Centineo, the movie boasts an all-star ensemble cast, as well as acclaimed writer-director Jim Mickle, who’s already found success on Netflix with his adaptation of the comic-book series Sweet Tooth. If it draws comparisons with the best Gundam anime, this live-action release will become the centerpiece of a new era for Netflix. Sydney Sweeney’s Live-Action Gundam Movie Represents A New Era For Netflix The production of this live-action Gundam movie alone is a clear signal that Netflix is shifting its strategy for major sci-fi releases. The streaming giant has already spent the past five years showcasing preexisting anime series within the franchise, before expanding Gundam with its own original animated productions. However, a live-action release with a budget of at least $110 million (via What’s On Netflix) is a different proposition altogether. It’s interesting that the project will be a feature film rather than a serial drama, despite Netflix restricting it exclusively to a small screen release. Legendary Pictures and Bandai Namco Filmworks have been developing it in a feature-length format since long before Netflix acquired the distribution rights. Yet, it marks a major departure from the streamer’s prioritization of serial releases for flagship IP, with One Piece’s live-action series being the operative comparison. Nevertheless, Sydney Sweeney’s Gundam should have all other comparable franchises worried, from Transformers to Godzilla. Netflix means business with this upcoming movie, and no other giant armed robot is going to stand in its way, live-action or otherwise. Netflix Can Make Gundam’s Universal Century The New One Piece With Mobile Suit Gundam’s anniversary reboot just around the corner, amid a global resurgence in popularity for the anime franchise, Netflix has picked an opportune moment to strike up a partnership with Bandai Namco Filmworks. Those behind the franchise’s upcoming live-action movie have been careful to ensure it adheres to canon, too. As Noah Centineo recently confirmed when asked about Gundam, the film follows the Universal Century timeline foundational to almost every classic release in the history of the anime. There’s a clear sense that Netflix wants this release to serve as the jewel in the crown of an expansive Gundam catalog on their platform. If they’re lucky, the live-action movie could even improve the franchise. Netflix’s One Piece is somehow even better than much of what came before it in the anime series. It’s worth bearing in mind, though, that One Piece traces its roots back to a manga series, whereas Gundam is originally an anime creation. For all the polarizing opinions of Sydney Sweeney, if she manages to make a major success of Gundam in live action, she’ll have earned a whole new level of respect from an enormous global fandom, many of whom won’t have taken much interest in her previous work. Let the countdown begin to the anime adaptation event of the decade. Gundam Director Jim Mickle Producers Linda Moran, Cale Boyter, Matthew Jenkins, Noah Centineo, Sydney Sweeney, Makoto Asanuma, Ali Mendes, Naohiro Ogata Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino First Film Mobile Suit Gundam I First TV Show Mobile Suit Gundam Latest TV Show Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury First Episode Air Date April 7, 1979 Cast Tôru Furuya, Shūichi Ikeda, Hirotaka Suzuoki The Gundam franchise is a cornerstone of mecha anime, featuring giant robots known as "mobile suits" in various wartime settings. Originating with Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979, it explores complex themes of war, politics, and humanity through the struggles of pilots who navigate these massive machines. The franchise spans multiple timelines and universes, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected stories and standalone narratives.