With the triumph of the Super Mario Bros. film, Nintendo opens its doors to Hollywood, granting access to its beloved IPs. Director Wes Ball is set to helm the next project—a live-action adaptation of Legend of Zelda.
Director Wes Ball’s commitment to the upcoming live-action Zelda film announced in November is evident. He has emphasized the serious nature of the project, quelling any expectations for a campy action film among fans of the long-running Nintendo game.
Said Ball, “I have this awesome idea. I’ve been thinking about it for a long freakin’ time, of how cool a Zelda movie would be… I want to fulfill people’s greatest desires. I know it’s important, this [Zelda] franchise, to people and I want it to be a serious movie. A real movie that can give people an escape. That’s the thing I want to try to create – it’s got to feel like something real. Something serious and cool, but fun and whimsical.“
After the disappointing reception of the 1993 Super Mario Bros. film, which starred Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo, Nintendo distanced itself from Hollywood for decades. However, in 2023, the release of an animated Super Mario Bros. film changed the game, boasting a $100 million production budget and raking in a staggering $1.362 billion worldwide.
With such phenomenal success, Nintendo is now poised to expand its presence in the animated film genre, with Zelda set to receive a live-action adaptation.
Director Wes Ball has previously expressed his aspiration to craft a live-action Studio Ghibli-esque motion picture with the Zelda project. Discussing his vision for the film, the Maze Runner director stated:
“this awesome fantasy-adventure movie that isn’t like Lord of the Rings, it’s its own thing. I’ve always said, I would love to see a live-action Miyazaki. That wonder and whimsy that he brings to things, I would love to see something like that.“
Nintendo and Sony have joined forces to co-produce the movie, with Derek Connolly tasked with penning the script.
Yet, despite this collaboration, the director of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, cautioned back in December that the live-action Legend of Zelda movie is still in its nascent stages of development. He expressed uncertainty regarding whether it would be his next project to tackle.
“We’re working on the script, and whether it’s the next one or not, it’s hard to say exactly,. But certainly the plan is, after Apes is done, to have a little bit of a rest for a moment, and then dive into [Zelda] and hopefully give fans what they’re hoping for, and also invite new people in. I think Nintendo’s desire is to introduce people to this world that’s been around for 40 years now.“
At the heart of the Zelda franchise lies the tale of Link, a youthful Hylian bestowed with the destiny of safeguarding the realm of Hyrule from the malevolent wizard Ganon. Meanwhile, Zelda, the Hyrule princess, stands as a resourceful and formidable ruler, possessing the Triforce of Wisdom—one of the three revered relics.
The narrative’s central strife revolves around the perpetual struggle between Link and Ganon, each vying for dominion over the Triforce and other sacred artifacts. While Ganon seeks to harness their might to subjugate Hyrule, Link frequently collaborates with Zelda in defense of the kingdom and its inhabitants.
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