Gundala (film)
Gundala is a 2019 Indonesian neo-noir superhero film based on the comics character Gundala, created by Harya Suraminata (Hasmi) in 1969. The film was co-produced by Screenplay Films and Bumilangit Studios, and distributed by Legacy Pictures. It is the first installment in the Bumilangit Cinematic Universe (BCU). The film is directed and written by Joko Anwar, and stars Abimana Aryasatya, alongside Tara Basro, Bront Palarae, Ario Bayu, Cecep Arif Rahman, Rio Dewanto, and Muzakki Ramdhan. The film depicts the efforts of security guard Sancaka, in the guise of crime-fighting vigilante Gundala, to prevent crime boss Pengkor from poisoning unborn Indonesian children.
| Gundala | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Joko Anwar |
| Written by | Joko Anwar |
| Based on | Gundala by Harya "Hasmi" Suraminata |
| Produced by | Sukhdev Singh Wicky V. Olindo Bismarka Kurniawan |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Ical Tanjung |
| Edited by | Dinda Amanda |
| Music by | Aghi Narotama Bemby Gusti Tony Merle |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Screenplay Films |
Release date | 28 August 2019 (Local Premiere)
29 August 2019 (Indonesia) September 11, 2019 (Toronto Internasional Film Festival) |
Running time | 123 minutes 119 minutes (TIFF) |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Languages | Indonesian Javanese |
| Budget | Rp30 billion ($2.11 million) |
| Box office | Rp67.67 billion ($4.78 million) |
The first official news about the film was announced on April 4, 2018, on the social media accounts of its director and production houses. At Indonesia Comic Con on October 28, 2018, a press conference was held to introduce the main casts and to hold the first screening of video footage from the film, with a release date set around mid-2019. Filming was done from September to October 2018.
Gundala had its local premiere on August 28, 2019, and was released in Indonesia on August 29, 2019. It had its international premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2019. The film received positive reviews from audience and critics with praise for Abimana's performance, Anwar's direction, and the visual effects, costume design, and originality.
A sequel, Gundala the Son of Lightning, is planned as part of the first volume of films in the Bumilangit Cinematic Universe, and was announced ahead of Gundala's release.