A Live-Action “The Legend of Zelda” is in the Works
Hollywood’s about to head to Hyrule. The Legend of Zelda creator and game developer Shigeru Miyamoto announced on Twitter that he’s been working on a live-action film adaptation of his iconic game for years with veteran producer Avi Arad (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and many more).
Miyamoto and Arad are turning to director Wes Ball, the helmer of the Maze Runner trilogy and the upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which was produced by Miyamoto. Miyamoto also produced 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a massive hit. The man knows video games and video game adaptations, and Ball has proven he’s adept at world-building and action.
The Legend of Zelda will be co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment and comes at a time when video game adaptations are having a major moment. Not only was The Super Mario Bros. Movie a major hit, but The Last of Us was a critical darling this year for HBO (24 Emmy nominations), and recently, Five Nights at Freddy’s, which had a great opening weekend.
Here’s how the legendary Miyamoto broke the news:
This is Miyamoto. 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. [1]
— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) November 7, 2023
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
Speaking with Variety for an April cover story, here’s how Miyamoto described the keys to adapting a video game for the big screen:
“The reason we were so resistant and careful to adapt our games into movies is because in video games, there is always a player who overcomes challenges and fights their way through. Their struggle — redoing the levels over and over — is all part of it. Just following the plot points of the video games will never work as a movie. Without the involvement of the player, it won’t meet expectations.”
There are no plot details about The Legend of Zelda at present, but the video game follows the warrior Link on his quest to vanquish the villain Ganon and save Zelda, the princess of Hyrule. The most recent installment of the series, 2023’s Tears of the Kingdom, was another major hit.
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Featured image: “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.” Courtesy Nintendo.
