We all suspected it was coming, and Nintendo has finally confirmed it: The Legend Of Zelda will be getting the feature-length treatment.
Back in the summer, insider reports suggested that Nintendo would be once again be looking for another studio partner, this time to bring another of its iconic video game properties into the world of feature-length film.
The project? None other than The Legend Of Zelda.
The rumours first surfaced back in June and made plenty of sense. Universal and Nintendo were riding high with the stunning commercial success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (which is still in line to be the second highest-grossing film of 2023). On the gaming side of things, a new Zelda game titled Tears Of The Kingdom arrived this year too, sparking yet another revival of interest in the adventures of Link and the magical land of Hyrule.
It seemed obvious then, that Nintendo would next look to convert its series of beloved adventure games into a film project and that has now been officially confirmed.
Wes Ball, director of The Maze Runner has been named as the film’s director. Ball’s latest project is Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes, due to release next year. A trailer for that film was released last week.
Perhaps the only real surprises here are that Nintendo has opted not to partner with Universal again and opt for animation, following the huge success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Instead, the Japanese gaming giant will be collaborating with Sony Pictures Entertainment on a live-action feature. Interestingly, Nintendo is said to be putting up more than half of the financing for the film.
Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad will produce the project. Miyamoto has revealed in a statement he’s been working on the live-action film adaptation “for many years now” and has “officially started the development of the film with Nintendo itself heavily involved in the production.”
Miyamoto added: “It will take time until its completion, but I hope you look forward to seeing it.”
So there you go, it’s happening. We’ll bring you more on this one as we hear it, but as Miyamoto suggests, it’s going to be a while before it materialises.
