The highly anticipated second film in the Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway trilogy, officially titled Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe (Kidō Senshi Gundam: Senkō no Hathaway – Circe no Majo), has unveiled a new teaser visual and confirmed its theatrical opening in Japan in Q4 2025. This announcement marks a significant step forward for the continuation of the Universal Century saga, following the critically acclaimed first film released in 2021.
The Continuing Saga of Hathaway Noa
The Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway film series adapts Yoshiyuki Tomino’s Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash light novel series, which was originally published between 1989 and 1990. The story is a direct sequel to the 1988 film Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack and is set in the Universal Century timeline in UC 0105. It follows Hathaway Noa, the son of the legendary Earth Federation hero Bright Noa, as he takes on the alias Mafty Navue Erin and leads a terrorist organization called “Mafty.” Mafty’s objective is to halt the Earth Federation’s abuses and prevent the privatization of Earth to the privileged.
Plot Developments in The Sorcery of Nymph Circe
While specific plot details for The Sorcery of Nymph Circe remain largely under wraps, the released teaser and information suggest a continuation of the intense action and psychological depth established in the first film. The sequel will feature Hathaway Noa’s ongoing resistance, introducing new mobile suits and intense battles. There will be a significant shift in action, with the story moving to Australia, specifically Adelaide, for a major Federation summit, potentially leading to large-scale ground battles in an urban setting. The film is also expected to introduce new characters who will further deepen the narrative’s political and emotional complexities. Director Shukou Murase and producer Naohiro Ogata have hinted that the second film may deviate somewhat from Tomino’s original novels, possibly truncating some elements of the story.
Returning and New Staff
The core creative team from the first Hathaway film is returning for The Sorcery of Nymph Circe. This includes Director Shūkō Murase, screenwriter Yasuyuki Mutou, and composer Hiroyuki Sawano. The main voice cast, with Kensho Ono as Hathaway Noa, Reina Ueda as Gigi Andalucia, and Junichi Suwabe as Kenneth Sleg, will also reprise their roles, ensuring continuity in the film’s look, feel, and sound. New additions to the staff include Yuichi Kuboki joining Takako Suzuki as a color key artist, Yoshinori Sayama credited for display designs, and Yoshihisa Ōyama as the new film’s compositing director of photography. Manabu Kamitōno is directing the visual effects.
Production and Release Timeline
The first Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway film was released on June 11, 2021, after several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a significant box-office success in Japan, becoming the first Gundam film since 1988’s Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack to earn over 1 billion yen, with a cumulative total of over 2.2 billion yen (approximately US$19.57 million) as of October 2021. The first film also received critical acclaim for its animation and mature storytelling. Netflix U.S. began exclusively streaming the first film on July 1, 2021.
The second film, The Sorcery of Nymph Circe, was confirmed to be in production during Shochiku’s 130th Anniversary Lineup Announcement Event in January 2025. Although early teasers caused some confusion regarding a “this winter” or “next winter” release, it is now officially slated for Q4 2025. The production has faced challenges, including difficulties with location scouting in Australia due to the pandemic, which led the director to use a flight simulator for planning.
The Gundam Hathaway Trilogy’s Significance
The Gundam Hathaway film trilogy is a central pillar of Sunrise’s “UC NexT 0100” project, which aims to expand the Universal Century timeline. The films are seen as crucial for understanding the future trajectory of the Gundam universe, documenting the decline of the Earth Federation and the evolution of mobile suit technology. The narrative delves into the complexities of the protagonist, Hathaway Noa, who is still grappling with the events of the past, including the death of Quess Paraya and the ideologies of Char and Amuro. His use of the RX-105 Ξ Gundam (Xi Gundam) to challenge the Federation’s corruption drives the core conflict. The second film promises to further explore these themes with heightened tension and visual spectacle.
