The Gundam SEED franchise is actively expanding with a confirmed prequel film, FREEDOM ZERO, alongside a steady stream of merchandise including Gunpla, figures, and jewelry. The 2024 film FREEDOM remains the highest-grossing Gundam film in Japan.
Bandai Namco Filmworks confirmed in May 2026 that Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO, a prequel to the 2024 film, will receive a theatrical release. The project was first teased in November 2024, when director Mitsuo Fukuda revealed that the script was completed 20 years ago and that dialogue recording was already done. The prequel was originally planned as an original video anime two decades ago. The new theatrical path was not yet decided when the project was first teased. A fresh teaser trailer accompanied the announcement at the Gundam Conference Spring 2026 livestream. The 2024 FREEDOM film opened at number one in Japan, sold over 634,000 tickets in its first three days, and became the highest-earning Gundam film in the country.
Merchandise tied to the franchise continues to roll out across multiple product lines. Bandai Spirits released the METAL BUILD Strike Freedom Gundam on June 27, 2026, a reissue of the 2015 figure with updated packaging and an added auxiliary support rod. Two special color Gunpla kits arrived at Gundam Base on June 26: the HG 1/144 Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam in a ReCirculation Color variant and the HG 1/144 Xi Gundam in a clear color theater release commemorative package. Bandai also announced a collaboration between Apex Legends and three Real Grade Gunpla kits, including the RG 1/144 Freedom Gundam -Apex Legends Crypto Ver.-, to be sold at Gundam Base stores starting July 25.
Figure and accessory releases continue to expand the franchise's collectible footprint. MegaHouse opened pre-orders in June for a Lucrea Light Athrun Zala Pilot Suit Ver. figure, designed to display alongside the previously announced Kira Yamato figure. Bandai released the second wave of its Nokkarun desu ♪ capsule figure series featuring Kira, Lacus, Athrun, and Cagalli from SEED FREEDOM. The jewelry brand THE KISS released a third collaboration item, a necklace reproducing the Haumea's Protection Stone prop, alongside a re-release of the Cagalli silver ring.
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Three clear color Gunpla models will launch at Gundam Base in July 2026: the HG 1/144 Z'Gok (SEED FREEDOM Ver.) on July 11, and the FULL MECHANICS 1/100 Gundam Aerial and MGSD Wing Gundam Zero EW on July 18. The Z'Gok features transparent armor showing an inner frame modeled after the Infinite Justice Gundam Shiki.
Bandai Spirits announced a collaboration between the online shooter Apex Legends and three Real Grade Gunpla kits, which will be sold exclusively at Gundam Base stores and GUNDAM SIDE-F starting July 25. The lineup includes the RG 1/144 Freedom Gundam -Apex Legends Crypto Ver.-, priced at 4,400 yen; the RG 1/144 Wing Gundam Zero EW -Apex Legends Valkyrie Ver.-, also 4,400 yen; and the RG 1/144 Gundam Epion -Apex Legends Alter Ver.-, priced at 5,500 yen. Each kit features a color scheme inspired by an Apex Legends character: the Freedom Gundam uses white, yellow-green, and black for Crypto; the Wing Gundam Zero uses black and orange for Valkyrie; and the Gundam Epion uses light blue and black for Alter. All three kits include original Apex Legends marking stickers and come in full-color packaging. The collaboration was announced on July 1 and the kits will be available at physical Gundam Base locations and GUNDAM SIDE-F.
Bandai Spirits released the METAL BUILD Strike Freedom Gundam <Revival Edition> on June 27, 2026. The figure is a reissue of the November 2015 original, with updated packaging and an added auxiliary support rod. It stands approximately 195mm tall and uses ABS, die-cast, and PVC materials. The design follows the "Paladin" concept arrangement supervised by chief mechanical animation director Satoshi Shigeta, giving it proportioned parts. The eight DRAGOONs on the wings are detachable and can be displayed radially using dedicated base parts. The two high-energy beam rifles combine into a single weapon roughly 270mm long, and the waist rail gun Xiphias 3 has an original barrel deployment gimmick. The set includes the main body, backpack, beam rifles, beam sabers, beam shields, interchangeable hands, DRAGOON fixing arms, joint parts, auxiliary support stand, and a dedicated base. The price is 38,500 yen including tax. The figure is a general retail product for ages 15 and up, available in Japan.
Bandai will release the second wave of its capsule deformed figure series Nokkarun desu ♪ on June 25, 2026, featuring characters from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM. The lineup includes four types: Kira Yamato, Lacus Clyne, Athrun Zala, and Cagalli Yula Athha. Each figure stands approximately 4 cm tall and comes with a base that has a Gundam head design on the back. The figures are priced at 500 yen each (tax included) and will be sold on Gashapon Online from June 25 at 11:00 AM to July 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Delivery is expected around late November 2026. The series may also appear in capsule vending machines nationwide before delivery. Orders close when the planned quantity is reached.
Bandai Spirits will release two special color Gunpla kits at Gundam Base on June 26, 2026: the HG 1/144 Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam in a ReCirculation Color variant and the HG 1/144 Xi Gundam in a clear color theater release commemorative package. The Mighty Strike Freedom kit uses the SEED Action System and costs 3,300 yen. The Xi Gundam kit, priced at 6,930 yen, comes in a special package featuring the key visual from Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash - The Witch of Kirke.
Bandai will release the METAL BUILD Strike Freedom Gundam <Revival Version> on June 27, 2026, for 38,500 yen. The figure is a repackaged version of the 2015 release with added auxiliary supports, supervised by mechanical animation director Satoshi Shigeta. The eight DRAGOONs are detachable and can be displayed radially on dedicated base parts.
MegaHouse began accepting pre-orders on June 4 for the Lucrea Light Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM Athrun Zala Pilot Suit Ver. figure. The 210mm tall figure shows Athrun in his pilot suit holding a helmet, designed to display alongside the previously announced Kira Yamato Pilot Suit Ver. figure. It costs 8,800 yen and ships in January 2027.
At a recent Gundam Conference, Sunrise announced that a new theatrical anime, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO, will be released. The film is a prequel to the 2024 movie Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM, and is expected to depict the 'Freedom Hijacking Incident' that was only referenced in dialogue in the previous film. The project was first teased in November 2024 during a stage greeting for FREEDOM, with a teaser video released at that time. After roughly a year and a half of silence, the theatrical release was confirmed. While no specific release date has been set, speculation among fans points to a January 2027 release, following a pattern of recent Gundam theatrical releases: FREEDOM in January 2024, GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- in January 2025, and Hathaway's Flash - The Witch of Kirke in January 2026. The announcement footage also included a glimpse of an unfamiliar character, which is expected to be a key element of the story. The film is described as a prequel that will fill in details of the hijacking incident, and production appears to be progressing smoothly.
Bandai and jewelry brand THE KISS have released the third collaboration item tied to the anime film Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM: a necklace that reproduces the Haumea's Protection Stone, a key prop that character Cagalli Yula Athha gives to Athrun Zala in the movie. The pendant features a glass top, a silver end charm, and a slide ball with the letter "S" for SEED FREEDOM. It comes with an original box and a scene photo postcard. The necklace costs 16,500 yen including tax and will be sold at STRICT-G stores starting October 24, 2026. Pre-orders opened on May 18, 2026, via Premium Bandai, and will open on THE KISS-operated shop FANFUNMARKET on May 25. Alongside the necklace, the previously sold Cagalli silver ring is being re-released online exclusively, with pre-orders running from May 18 to June 29 and shipment planned for October 2026.
Bandai Namco Filmworks board director and producer Naohiro Ogata announced on Friday that Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Zero will screen in theaters. The announcement came during the Gundam Conference Spring 2026 livestream. Freedom Zero is a prequel to the 2024 film Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom. Director Mitsuo Fukuda, producer Hisakazu Naka, and voice actor Sōichirō Hoshi first revealed the project at a stage greeting in November 2024, when a teaser video played during special edition screenings of the main film. Fukuda stated at that time that the script was completed 20 years ago, that storyboards were nearly half finished, and that dialogue recording was already done. The prequel was originally planned as an original video anime two decades ago. The new theatrical path was not yet decided when the project was first teased. A fresh teaser trailer accompanied the Friday announcement. The 2024 Freedom film opened at number one in Japan, sold over 634,000 tickets in its first three days, and became the highest-earning Gundam film in the country.