It's official: The Legend of Zelda is getting the live-action treatment. Nintendo just announced its collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment to co-finance the film. The production will be overseen by Shigeru Miyamoto, the veteran creator of The Legend of Zelda, along with Avi Arad from Marvel Studios.
Exciting news! Wes Ball, known for his work on The Maze Runner trilogy, has been chosen as the director for The Legend of Zelda. He's also currently working on the highly anticipated film, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Nintendo announced its active participation in the movie production industry, aiming to delight and entertain everyone. They expressed their objective to generate visual content based on their intellectual property, opening doors for global accessibility to the captivating world of Nintendo through various platforms beyond their gaming consoles.
The news of a live-action version of the iconic story has finally been confirmed after years of speculation. In 2015, The Wall Street Journal reported that the studio was working on a live-action The Legend of Zelda TV show for Netflix, but this was denied by former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. The rumor resurfaced in 2018 with director Adi Shankar. In 2021, comedian and voice actor Adam Conover revealed that Nintendo had approached his employer, CollegeHumor, to create a stop-motion show based on Star Fox. Miyamoto himself even visited the studio to discuss the project, but it was ultimately scrapped due to leaks. However, in May 2023, The Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma expressed his ongoing interest in creating some form of Zelda adaptation in the future.
The film studio has not disclosed any information regarding the cast, plot, or expected release year of the movie. Due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes, it might take some time before we receive further updates about the project. Earlier this year, the latest installment in The Legend of Zelda series, Tears of the Kingdom, earned critical acclaim, with a review on Our Website praising its open-ended game design and homage to the franchise's rich history.
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan of The Legend of Zelda, I'm thrilled to hear about the collaboration between Nintendo and Sony to bring the beloved video game series to life in a live-action film. This partnership has the potential to create something truly special and unforgettable. With Nintendo's rich history of storytelling and character development, combined with Sony's expertise in producing high-quality films, I believe this adaptation has the potential to be a blockbuster hit.
The choice of Wes Ball as director is also an exciting one. His work on The Maze Runner trilogy demonstrated his ability to create visually stunning and action-packed films that capture the essence of their source material. I'm confident that he will bring the same level of passion and creativity to The Legend of Zelda, ensuring that the film stays true to the spirit of the games while also offering something new and exciting for fans.