We know the success of Super Marios Bros. would put Illumination and Universal in the Nintendo business for quite some time, and now it seems like their next project is almost set.
A new report suggests Illumination’s next big project will be an adaptation of The Legend of Zelda, reports Jeff Sneider via John Rocha’s The Hot Mic. This would mark the first feature film of any Zelda interaction and Illumination’s second Nintendo-based project.
At the time of writing, there’s no word on how the studio will handle The Legend of Zelda regarding stories or visuals. Dating back to 1986, the video game series has featured many tales and seen a variety of art styles during its long run. Many fans hope it would go the route of the latest video games, with the recent editions cementing the Zelda franchise as one of Nintendo’s most successful.
This news comes not long after the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the nineteenth mainline installment and follow-up to the massively successful Breath of the Wild. The game is already proving to be a huge hit; Tears of the Kingdom sold over 10 million copies in its first three days of release. That serves as the fastest-selling game in The Legend of Zelda franchise and the fastest-selling Nintendo game in the Americas.
With the first Illumination/Nintendo project, Super Marios Bros., becoming a global hit – grossing over a billion dollars at the box office – it’s safe to assume this project is a high priority for the studio. Could we see another billion-dollar movie on our hands and see Nintendo dominate films as they’ve done gaming for decades?
Let’s say it’s a beautiful time to be a Zelda fan, and the new animated film could boost the beloved long-running franchise to new heights.
Originally published June 8, 2023. Updated June 16, 2023.
