Illumination CEO Speaks Out on Explosive Legend of Zelda Movie Speculations

Following the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Illumination Entertainment's CEO, Chris Melendandri, has responded to the recent rumors surrounding a potential film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. Both franchises have gained significant attention this year, thanks to the film's success and the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie defied expectations and emerged as a critically acclaimed and commercially prosperous video game adaptation. It also holds the distinction of being Illumination's highest-grossing production to date. This triumph has left numerous Nintendo enthusiasts pondering whether the studio will delve into further adaptations of Nintendo franchises. Among the speculated franchises, The Legend of Zelda stands out as a long-awaited contender for a cinematic treatment. Addressing the buzz, Illumination's CEO has shared insights on the possibility of a movie already being in progress.

Chris Meledandri, in an interview with TheWrap at the Annecy International Animation Festival, was asked about the possibility of a The Legend of Zelda film. Rather than confirming or denying the rumors, Meledandri expressed his understanding of how speculation arises due to their successful past collaborations.

The speculation surrounding a potential The Legend of Zelda film continues, as the CEO of Illumination did not explicitly rule it out. It is worth noting that the partnership between Illumination and Nintendo has been highly successful, leading to the CEO gaining a position on Nintendo's board of directors. This suggests that the collaboration between the two companies will likely extend beyond The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

The question of whether Nintendo and Illumination will continue to work together in the future is not the main concern. With The Super Mario Bros. Movie being the highest-grossing film for both Illumination and video game adaptations, it is almost certain that a sequel will be in the works. The real question is how this partnership will evolve and explore other avenues. Nintendo was hesitant to adapt their properties for many years after the failure of the previous Mario Bros. film in 1993. This left beloved franchises like The Legend of Zelda, Kirby, and Metroid without any other medium to tell their stories besides video games. While Illumination currently denies the possibility, the future may hold more opportunities for Nintendo properties beyond the Mushroom Kingdom.

Source: TheWrap