Gundala (film)

Gundala
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJoko Anwar
Written byJoko Anwar
Based onGundala
by Harya "Hasmi" Suraminata
Produced bySukhdev Singh
Wicky V. Olindo
Bismarka Kurniawan
Starring
CinematographyIcal Tanjung
Edited byDinda Amanda
Music byAghi Narotama
Bemby Gusti
Tony Merle
Production
companies
Screenplay Films
Bumilangit Studios
Legacy Pictures
Ideosource Entertainment
Distributed byScreenplay Films
Release date
  • 28 August 2019 (2019-08-28) (Local Premiere)

29 August 2019 (2019-08-29) (Indonesia)

September 11, 2019 (2019-09-11) (Toronto Internasional Film Festival)
Running time
123 minutes[1]
119 minutes[2] (TIFF)
CountryIndonesia
LanguagesIndonesian
Javanese
BudgetRp30 billion[3]
($2.11 million)
Box officeRp67.67 billion[4]
($4.78 million)

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).[5] 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.[6] 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.

The first official news about the film was announced on April 4, 2018, on the social media accounts of its director and production houses.[7] 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.[8] Filming was done from September to October 2018.[9]

Gundala had its local premiere on August 28, 2019, and was released in Indonesia on August 29, 2019.[10] It had its international premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2019.[2][11] 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.[12]

  1. ^ "Gundala". FilmIndonesia.or.id. Archived from the original on August 30, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Kuplowsky, Peter. "Gundala". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  3. ^ Chua, Monica (August 21, 2019). "Film 'Gundala' Habiskan Dana hingga Rp 30 Miliar" ['Gundala' film spent up to Rp30 billion]. CNBC Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  4. ^ "Data Penonton | 2019" [Moviegoers Data | 2019]. FilmIndonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  5. ^ Wira, Ni Nyoman (July 24, 2019). "Three fun facts about Joko Anwar's 'Gundala'". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  6. ^ "Official poster of Joko Anwar's 'Gundala' released". The Jakarta Post. May 30, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  7. ^ Barus, Ramadani (April 4, 2018). "Joko Anwar akan Menggarap Film 'Gundala' – Pahlawan Super Indonesia" [Joko Anwar will work on 'Gundala' film – Indonesian superhero]. IDN Times (in Indonesian). Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  8. ^ Ayuningtyas, Rita (October 28, 2018). "Pemeran Utama Film 'Gundala' Diperkenalkan di Indonesia Comic Con" [Main cast of the film 'Gundala' introduced in Indonesia Comic Con]. Liputan 6 (in Indonesian). Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  9. ^ Pangerang, Andi Muttya Keteng (June 11, 2018). "Ini Dia Aktor yang Akan Terlibat dalam Film 'Gundala'" [These are some casts who will be involved in 'Gundala' film]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  10. ^ Scott, Mathew (July 19, 2019). "Indonesia's Screenplay Bumilangit Plans 'Gundala' Superhero Franchise (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  11. ^ Lang, Brent (August 8, 2019). "Toronto Film Festival Unveils Documentary, Midnight, Discovery Lineups". Variety. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  12. ^ Setiawan, Tri Susanto (August 18, 2019). "Setelah Gundala, Bumilangit Umumkan 7 Film Jagoan Barunya Halaman all". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved January 31, 2021.