The upcoming Gundam film to celebrate the franchise’s 40th anniversary — “Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash,” originally slated for release on 23rd July 2020, has been postponed indefinitely.

An unofficial translation of SUNRISE/ statement follows:

First of all, we would like to express our deepest sympathies to all the victims of COVID-19.

We are currently preparing for the release of “Mobile Suit Gundam Flashlight Hathaway” scheduled for release on 23rd July 2020 (Thursday/Marine Day), but we decided to postpone the release date due to the spread of COVID-19 in Japan.

We deeply apologize to everyone who was looking forward to the release of the film.

As soon as the release date is decided, we will announce it on the official website of “Mobile Suit Gundam Flashlight Hathaway” and official SNS. Please note that the advance ticket MovieTicket Card (1st and 2nd) you have already purchased can be used in the screening after the postponement, so please keep it carefully until the release date.

We have made every effort to deliver the work as scheduled, and we deeply apologize for making such an announcement. All the staff believe that the movie release will encourage our fans, and we will make it so that we can deliver better movies for release.

Thank you for your continued support.

Part of a theatrical film adaptation project dubbed “UC NexT 0100”, “Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash” was the first in a trilogy of movies. The films are based on the “Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash” novel series by Yoshiyuki Tomino, which featured mobile suit designs by Moriki Yasuhiro and character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto.

“Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash” is set twelve years after the Second Neo-Zeon War (also known as “Char’s Rebellion”). The corruption of the Earth Federation accelerated the pollution of the planet, as well as carried out systemic injustice through the inhumane “Man Hunter” policy — which forcedly exiled undesirable civilians into space.

An anti-Earth Federation resistance group “Mufti” started assassinating high-ranking officials. The group is led by “Mufti Nabiyy Erin”, whose true identity is Hathaway Noah — son of Commonwealth Colonel Bright Noah. Hathaway tries to pave the way as a fighter with Amuro Ray and Char Aznable’s ideals and will, but an encounter with the Federal Army Colonel Kenneth Sleg and the mysterious girl Gigi Andalusia will undermine his resolve.