Entertainment

Sydney Sweeney’s Upcoming Netflix Space Opera Officially Starts A New Era With 2 Other Movies

Nairavoice · Nov 3, 2026 · 8 min read

Sydney Sweeney has become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars, and her career looks like it’s going to continue soaring higher and higher. Euphoria came to an end with Season 3 earlier in 2026, and it was notable that many of its cast, including Sweeney, had already outgrown it by that point (and indeed, getting its many now A-listers back together was one reason it took so long).

The actress has successfully transitioned into leading roles on the big screen, including a couple of major hits: Anyone But You proved rom-coms are still viable, pulling in $220 million at the box office in what felt like a throwback to the 1990s and 2000s, while thriller The Housemaid made $400m and is already getting a sequel.

Hollywood clearly sees her as a bankable star, as evidenced not only by the success of those projects, but the fact that Sweeney has several upcoming movies in 2027 and beyond. These include the aforementioned sequel to The Housemaid, which is titled The Housemaid’s Secret and will release on December 17, 2027, and the tragicomedy The Custom of the Country, which co-stars Leo Woodall.

Biggest of all, though, is Sweeney starring in Netflix’s live-action Gundam movie, based on the mecha anime series Mobile Suit Gundam. In terms of scale, this represents a step up from her previous work, and also a major shift in genre, too.

Sydney Sweeney Does Sci-Fi With Netflix’s Gundam Movie

Sydney Sweeney’s biggest upcoming sci-fi project is undoubtedly Netflix’s live-action Gundam movie. Based on the hugely influential Japanese multimedia franchise that began with Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979, the film represents a major opportunity to introduce an enormous property to a new generation of viewers. The franchise has enjoyed decades of success through anime, manga, and more, but a major live-action Hollywood adaptation has remained an elusive prospect until now, with filming completed and the movie now in post-production (though no release date has been confirmed).

Sweeney stars alongside Noah Centineo, with the pair playing rival mech pilots caught on opposite sides of a decades-long war between Earth and its former space colonies. This is taking some familiar story beats and themes and putting them in a new setting, as instead of navigating complicated relationships in contemporary settings, she’ll be stepping into an expansive universe where enormous mechanized weapons determine the fate of humanity.

The premise obviously means this is going to deliver some huge blockbuster action, something Sweeney hasn’t really done (the closest she has come to a sci-fi blockbuster, it should be noted, was Sony’s disastrous Madame Web, but the failings of that movie weren’t on her, nor the genre).

That alone is exciting in terms of her status as a genuine lead star in Hollywood, but it also offers plenty of room for emotional storytelling. It’s a story that should combine large-scale spectacle with personal conflict, and so while the giant robots will naturally be the selling point alongside its stars, there’s a chance for something deeper, too.

After Gundam, Sydney Sweeney Has 2 More Sci-Fi Movies

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While Gundam is attracting plenty of attention, it isn’t the only science-fiction project on Sweeney’s upcoming schedule, as the actress is also attached to two others: Barbarella and Split Fiction.

First up is Barbarella, a new take on the sci-fi property that became a 1968 movie starring Jane Fonda. Based on Jean-Claude Forest’s French comic series, the original followed an astronaut from the 41st century who embarked on an extraordinary adventure to stop an evil scientist threatening the galaxy.

The 1968 adaptation became a cult classic thanks to its colorful visual identity, eccentric humor, extravagant costumes, and decidedly unconventional approach. It wasn’t exactly a traditional space adventure, instead embracing the more psychedelic and provocative elements of the genre, and it’ll be interesting to see how the remake approaches those, while perhaps also strengthening up its weaker elements (such as its storytelling and characterization).

Sweeney has been attached to the project since 2022, with plans for her to star as the titular character and executive produce, and then Edgar Wright subsequently joined as director. That’s a particularly exciting creative combination, considering Wright’s experience blending comedy, action, visual filmmaking, and unconventional storytelling.

However, Barbarella is still some distance away from reaching audiences. There is no confirmed production start date or release window, however, a Deadline report from 2026 confirmed it’s still moving forward, and Sweeney herself gave an update on Barbarella last year, saying that it was a “long process,” but would be “worth the wait.”

The other project is Split Fiction, a movie adaptation of the 2025 video game developed by Hazelight Studios. Sweeney is attached to star and executive produce, while Wicked director Jon M. Chu is set to direct. The screenplay is being written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the duo who have written the Deadpool movies.

Unlike Barbarella, Split Fiction is a recent property, but its premise offers enormous cinematic possibilities. The original game follows Mio and Zoe, two aspiring writers who become trapped inside a simulation of their own stories. One specializes in science fiction, while the other writes fantasy, forcing the unlikely pair to navigate wildly different fictional worlds together.

The game is constantly changing in setting and tone, with players exploring a futuristic environment with advanced tech one moment, and a fantastic world with magical creatures the next. Beneath all the imaginative spectacle, however, is a story about friendship and collaboration that can be used to give the movie a strong narrative.

A film adaptation has challenges in bringing those mechanics to life, but should still be able to preserve that imaginative variety while giving Sweeney an opportunity to explore several different styles of sci-fi and fantasy. There is also considerable potential for spectacular visual effects and world-building. With Chu’s experience directing large-scale musical and fantasy productions, and video game movies gradually shaking off the tag of being cursed, there’s a lot of potential to this, if some risk as well.

Sydney Sweeney Should Be Great At Sci-Fi

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There are plenty of actors who successfully transition between genres, but Sweeney has already demonstrated several qualities that could make her particularly effective in science fiction. Her performances in Euphoria and The White Lotus established her as an actor capable of exploring complicated characters, often balancing vulnerability with unpredictable behavior. Those abilities could prove invaluable in a genre that needs stars who can ground heady concepts with real humanity.

Her work in horror also provides some useful evidence. In Immaculate, Sweeney plays Cecilia, an American nun who travels to Italy before becoming caught up in an increasingly disturbing religious conspiracy. It’s a performance that requires her to carry an emotionally intense story while navigating an unsettling environment. Although horror and sci-fi aren’t interchangeable, both genres benefit enormously from performers who can make audiences invest in characters facing extraordinary circumstances.

Choose the movie with the higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

There’s also her experience as a producer to consider. Sweeney has become increasingly involved in developing projects rather than simply accepting roles offered to her. She helped bring Anyone But You to the big screen and played an important role in getting Immaculate made. That experience could give her a valuable understanding of how to build projects around distinctive concepts and characters to better ensure their success, as she will serve as producer or executive producer on each of these.

Gundam Could Become A Major Sci-Fi Franchise

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It’s easy to imagine that Sweeney could end up with a bona fide sci-fi franchise here. Gundam, certainly, is one that Netflix is presumably eyeing with that intent, even though it’s track-record with live-action anime adaptations is mixed. Given the history and breadth of Gundam in Japan, though, then there should be the possibility for sequels and spinoffs if the Sweeney-led movie proves to be a success.

Barbarella could in theory have sequels, as one was proposed for the original 1968 movie too, though it does seem a little less likely. Wright hasn’t been one to make a lot of sequels anyway, and it does feel like a concept more designed for a one-and-done, but if it is a big hit then the chances of more obvious increase.

Split Fiction is perhaps even trickier, because it’s such a complete story and there’s no game sequel on the horizon, but, again, if it’s a success, it can’t be ruled out. What seems clear, though, is that the next few years of Sydney Sweeney‘s career will, in part, be dominated with some major sci-fi movies, alongside her usual horrors and thrillers, and while each project is risky, there’s reason to be excited too.

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