Link is finally headed to big screen!
The massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie led to rumors that Universal and Illumination were looking at another Nintendo classic to adapt, and we now have word that a Legend of Zelda movie is in the works.
This probably won't come as much of a surprise, but there are a few unexpected details to the announcement.
The project is actually being developed at Sony Pictures, and it's going to a live-action adaptation! Gaming legend and franchise creator Shigeru Miyamoto took to Nintendo’s official X/Twitter account to confirm 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. 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.”
The movie will be helmed by Wes Ball, who directed The Maze Runner and the upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Derek Connolly (Jurassic World) is writing the script.
Ball actually sent out the following Tweet back in 2010.
Casting is likely still a while off, but insider Daniel Richtman believes they are searching for a younger actor to play Link, so we can probably forget about Spider-Man star Tom Holland (who tends to be fan-cast as the character) landing the role.
For the uninitiated, the series is set in the fictional land of Hyrule, and tell the story of an adventurer named Link (who looks a lot like an Elf but is actually a member of the Hylian race) as he attempts to rescue Princess Zelda from the clutches of the evil wizard, Ganon.
The games have spawned everything from comics, to toys, to a short lives animated series, and Zelda is one of the most popular, revered properties out there.
There have been several earlier attempts to adapt the property, and back in 2018, we heard that a live-action series from Castlevania's Adi Shankar was in the works for Netflix, but we haven't had any solid update since.
The film will be produced by Miyamoto, and Avi Arad, Chairman of Arad Productions Inc., who has produced many mega hit films. The movie will be co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., with more than 50% financed by Nintendo. The theatrical distribution of the film will be done worldwide by Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.