Following the astonishing success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie earlier this year, it seemed only natural that Nintendo would keep the momentum going, and it is doing so by officially announcing a live-action The Legend of Zelda film.
The feature is set to be produced by Nintendo’s own Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad, who is credited with the production of multiple movies in Sony’s Spider-Man universe, including the much-loved Spider-Verse duology and Tom Hardy’s Venom films. Miyamoto confirmed the news on Nintendo’s official Twitter (X) page:
A release window and casting details are yet to be confirmed, but to say this is exciting news for Nintendo fans around the world would be an understatement. The Legend of Zelda fans have been particularly spoiled in 2023, having received the critically beloved Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch title earlier this year.
Given the early stage of the announcement, it’s unclear from where in the IP’s rich history the live-action movie will draw. Should Nintendo wish to ensure longevity, it could reach back just a few years to 2017’s Breath of the Wild or even further to 1998’s Ocarina of Time.
As stated by Miyamoto in his initial post, “It will take time until its completion, but I hope you look forward to seeing it.” With the WGA strike concluded, there should be fewer obstacles in the way when it comes time for pre-production. At that point, the SAG-AFTRA strike should also be resolved.
The live-action movie will be released worldwide by Sony Pictures Entertainment, but it will be co-financed by both the production studio and Nintendo, which will reportedly foot more than 50 percent of the bill. “By producing visual contents of Nintendo IP by itself, Nintendo is creating new opportunities to have people from around the world access the world of entertainment which Nintendo has built, through different means apart from its dedicated game consoles,” the video game company said in its official statement.
The live-action project will be directed by Wes Ball, whose portfolio includes The Maze Runner trilogy and 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. This marks the beginning of an exciting venture for both Nintendo and Sony, especially if the live-action endeavor performs as well as The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which blew past expectations to earn $1.36 billion at the box office. We will keep you apprised of new information as it unfolds. Stay tuned.