Director of Upcoming Legend of Zelda Film Predicted His Live-Action Approach Over a Decade Ago

Article Overview

Wes Ball, the director of The Legend of Zelda movie, initially believed he would never have the chance to direct such a project, as a resurfaced 2010 tweet reveals.

Ball suggests that a live-action Zelda movie should follow the style of "mo-cap Avatar-like movies," indicating his approach to the material. With Ball's experience in motion capture technology from Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and considering the requirements of the source material, utilizing Avatar's technology appears to be an ideal match, although specific information about the movie remains limited.

Wes Ball, who is set to direct The Legend of Zelda movie, once doubted the possibility of taking on this ambitious project. Recently announced by Nintendo executive and game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Ball, known for directing Maze Runner and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, has been chosen to lead the live-action adaptation of the popular video game series. Since its release in 1986, the franchise has seen numerous sequels and spinoffs, with games developed for every iteration of Nintendo's evolving consoles.

However, in light of the surprising announcement, an old tweet from Ball in 2010 has resurfaced, revealing his disbelief at ever being involved in such a project. Refer to his original tweet below:

Why Avatar’s Motion Capture Technology Would Be Perfect For The Legend of Zelda Movie

Ball once hinted that he would never receive the opportunity to direct The Legend of Zelda movie, but his initial tweet now appears to be somewhat prophetic. This is because he had mentioned a future project similar to Avatar that would likely come after Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022.

The content fragment could be rewritten as follows:

The Legend of Zelda series takes place in the enchanting realm of Hyrule and is renowned for featuring a diverse range of mythical creatures and unfamiliar races. Even the protagonist, Link, differs from the human mold and belongs to the Hylians, an elf-like race dominant in Hyrule. While it may be feasible for Ball to recreate Link and the other Hylians using simple prosthetics, similar to the Elves in The Lord of the Rings, there are numerous other species that pose a greater challenge for practical implementation.

With the inclusion of rock-like Gorons, aquatic Zora, and various other inhabitants of the magical world of Hyrule, employing motion capture technology akin to that used in the Avatar movies becomes indispensable in delivering an immersive viewing experience to audiences. Additionally, considering Ball's familiarity with motion capture technology from his work on the forthcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, he emerges as a natural fit to bring these beloved video games to life.

Wes Ball's Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes was written by Avatar: The Way of Water screenwriter Josh Friedman, which is interesting. The Legend of Zelda movie is still in its early stages, so there isn't much information available. It's possible that Ball might choose a different approach and not use motion capture at all. However, considering Ball's filmmaking background and the requirements of the source material, utilizing Avatar's technology seems like a great fit for the project.

Source: Wes Ball/Twitter

Editor's P/S

I am incredibly excited about the upcoming Legend of Zelda movie. I have been a fan of the video game series for years, and I think it has the potential to be a great movie. I am confident that Wes Ball is the right director for the job. He has a great track record of making visually stunning films, and I think he will be able to bring the world of Zelda to life in a way that is both faithful to the source material and exciting for new audiences.

I am also excited about the possibility of the movie using motion capture technology. I think this could be a great way to create realistic and immersive visuals. I am also curious to see how the movie will handle the different races in the Zelda universe. I think it will be interesting to see how they are brought to life on the big screen.