A live-action Legend of Zelda film is finally being produced by Nintendo, following months of speculation and years of anticipation.
Few specifics about the news were released today in an official post to Nintendo investors. Producers of the movie include Avi Arad, the chairman of Arad Productions and the former CEO and founder of Marvel Studios, and Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo.
Over the years, Arad’s credits as a producer have been attached to a number of popular films, the most recent of which being Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Into the Spider-Verse, No Way Home, Far From Home, and Homecoming. In addition, he worked on the future films Kraven the Hunter and Borderlands.
Wes Ball, the filmmaker of The Maze Runner, will helm the film, which Sony Pictures Entertainment will co-finance with Nintendo and distribute in theatres. Last Day Meanwhile, Hollywood claims that Derek Connolly, the writer of Jurassic World, has written the script.
In a tweet/X post today, Miyamoto stated that the project has been in the works in some kind for “many years now,” despite the press release suggesting that development is just getting started.
At last, a live-action Zelda film will be released.
There were reports earlier this year that a live-action Legend of Zelda film was in development, but instead of Sony, word on the Hyrule street suggested that Universal or maybe Illumination was involved. Tears of the Kingdom’s creators themselves said they were “interested” in producing a Zelda film following the popularity of The Super Mario Bros. Movie earlier this year, which stoked the rumours. However, as Eiji Aonuma stated at the time, “it’s not just me being interested in something that makes things happen, unfortunately.” Following an online leak, a Netflix series was apparently cancelled.
Characters like Link, Zelda, Ganon, and others will have a whole new significance in the Zelda movie because it is a live-action picture, unlike the Mario movie. Although it was warmly accepted, Chris Pratt’s choice to play Mario in the Super Mario Bros. Movie drew criticism prior to its premiere. Even if Link, the protagonist of the Zelda games, continues to be mute, a Zelda movie would probably face comparable fan criticism.
Uncertainty surrounds which Zelda story this film will explore.
Many fans have been making their own trailers while dressing up as Zelda, speculating about the possibility for a Zelda film for years. Our idea for a live-action Legend of Zelda was developed far back in 2008. Although it was only a jest back then, it appears like the prophecy has come true.
It’s uncertain if a new Zelda story will be told in place of or which specific Zelda story is going to be tackled in this cinematic adaptation. Given that Breath of the Wild would set up a potential sequel in Tears of the Kingdom, it’s plausible that Nintendo will choose to focus on the most current and popular games in the series instead. We’ll have to wait for Nintendo updates in one way or another to find out what’s coming soon.