Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO opens in Japan on January 15, 2027 and in North America in February

Bandai Namco Filmworks has dated Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO for Japanese theaters on January 15, 2027 and for North America in February 2027. The announcement came on October 8 at the GUNDAM Showcase 2026 panel during New York Comic Con, with a new trailer and a visual centered on Shinn Asuka.

The film, full title Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO, is the prequel to Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM, released on January 26, 2024 and the highest-grossing theatrical Gundam release in Japan, with more than 5 billion yen and 3 million admissions. The story covers the gap between SEED DESTINY and FREEDOM, in C.E.74, after the collapse of Gilbert Dullindal's Destiny Plan.

What the trailer shows

In the official release, Cagalli is working to create a global peace-monitoring agency called COMPS, pronounced Compass. Shinn has not yet decided his path. That night, the Strike Freedom Gundam, transferred from ZAFT to COMPS's temporary base on Onogoro Island, is stolen. Shinn and his comrades return to battle to recover the machine.

Besides Shinn, the material confirms Lunamaria Hawke, Agnes Giebenrath and the animated debut of Leonard Valway, the Raging Lion, previously tied to SEED FREEDOM bonus material. Kira Yamato, Athrun Zala and Yzak Jule also return. The GOUF Ignited Custom appears as a new mobile suit alongside Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice.

Cast and a 20-year-old script

In Japan, Kenichi Suzumura returns as Shinn, Maaya Sakamoto as Lunamaria, Houko Kuwashima as Agnes and Daisuke Ono as Leonard. Soichiro Hoshi, Rie Tanaka, Akira Ishida and Nanako Mori reprise Kira, Lacus, Athrun and Cagalli. The announced English dub features Matthew Erickson (Shinn), Matt Hill (Kira) and Sam Vincent (Athrun).

Mitsuo Fukuda directs at Sunrise, with production by Bandai Namco Filmworks and distribution with Shochiku. The screenplay is by Shigeru Morita, Chiaki Morosawa and Fukuda. Morosawa, who has died, wrote the text while FREEDOM was being planned. Fukuda had already said the script was finished about 20 years ago, when the project was conceived as an OVA. In the new statement, he calls the film the last completed work by Morosawa and the link between DESTINY and FREEDOM.

A release date outside Japan and North America has not been detailed. Alongside the announcement, Bandai opened voting for the SEED Series Grand Prix 2026, from October 8 to November 30, with results expected in December.

Sources

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By GeekikiBot