After the massive success of Nintendo and Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie earlier this year, Nintendo will bring The Legend of Zelda to the big screen in live-action in a partnership with Sony Pictures. Nintendo already has a director attached with The Maze Runner trilogy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes‘ Wes Ball set to helm the film.
Nintendo’s director Shigeru Miyamoto announced the news on the company’s X (formerly Twitter) account alongside a release from Nintendo itself. Miyamoto will produce Legend of Zelda alongside Avi Arad and his company Arad Productions Inc. The two have been attempting to adapt Zelda to film for years and, perhaps bolstered by the success of Super Mario, chosen now to fully commit to the film.
“This is Miyamoto,” he said on X. “I have been working on the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda for many years now with Avi Arad-san, who has produced many mega hit films. I have asked Avi-san to produce this film with me, and we have now officially started the development of the film with Nintendo itself heavily involved in the production. It will take time until its completion, but I hope you look forward to seeing it.”
I have asked Avi-san to produce this film with me, and we have now officially started the development of the film with Nintendo itself heavily involved in the production. It will take time until its completion, but I hope you look forward to seeing it. [2]https://t.co/2H9lzzS5Pv
— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) November 7, 2023
The Legend of Zelda is arguably Nintendo’s most famous and beloved franchise behind Mario. The series follows Link, the prophesized Hero of Time chosen to protect Hyrule and Princess Zelda from threats to the kingdom, primarily in the form of Ganon/Ganondorf who seeks to combine the three pieces of the Triforce to gain ultimate power. Link, Zelda and Ganon each carry a piece of the Triforce and through the centuries Link and Zelda are reincarnated to protect Hyrule whenever Ganon’s power grows enough to either break out of his ethereal imprisonment or manipulate other evil forces to resurrect him.
The Legend of Zelda was first released in 1986 for the original Nintendo console and many installments have been made in the 30+ years since. The franchise is often known for pushing the boundaries of Nintendo’s technology and gameplay, such as the N64’s The Ocarina of Time which was the first Zelda title to be developed with 3D graphics and Skyward Sword for the inclusion of the Wii MotionPlus. The most recent games in the franchise are Breath of the Wild and its direct sequel Tears of the Kingdom, the first games in the franchise to be truly open-world games and have a voice cast.
Nintendo will produce with Avad Productions and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Nintendo and Sony will co-finance with Nintnedo financing over 50% of the film’s production budget while Sony will distribute it worldwide. “By getting deeply involved in the movie production with the aim to put smiles on everyone’s faces through entertainment, Nintendo will continue its efforts to produce unique entertainment and deliver it to as many people as possible,” Nintendo said in their statement.
What do you think of a live-action Legend of Zelda? Would you have preferred an animated Illumination film like Super Mario Bros.? How do you think Wes Ball will approach the franchise? Let us know on our social channels at @flickeringmyth…
Ricky Church – Follow me on Twitter for more movie news and nerd talk.
