Director of Upcoming Live-Action Legend of Zelda Promises the Film “Will be Great”

Movies

As many Nintendo and Zelda fans will recall, just last year, Shigeru Miyamoto took to X on a Tuesday in November to casually announce that a Legend of Zelda film was in the works. This post sparked a frenzy of speculation and excitement for Zelda fans around the world. It was also revealed that Wes Ball, the filmmaker known for the Maze Runner movies, would direct the project, and Avi Arad, known for many of the big superhero films of the past, such as the original X-Men trilogy, Daredevil, Hulk, and the Spider-Man trilogy (to name a few) would produce. 

In a recent interview with The Direct to promote the upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, director Wes Ball teased how good the film will be, stating that the movie is “gonna be great” and “fans are gonna be happy.”

“We’re working on it. I think it’s gonna be great. Fans are gonna be happy. Legend of Zelda, to me, is one of the most important things ever in my life. You know, next to Star Wars. I’ve played Legend of Zelda throughout my childhood into my adulthood. You know what I mean? I am a fan. I am a fellow fan. I will go to the ends of the earth to make sure that it is the movie we all hope it will be.”

Knowing that a fellow fan is involved – as well as Nintendo – does indeed help to lessen any growing concerns. However, it still begs the question: what storyline will they adapt? Who will play Zelda, and most of all, who will play Link, and will he speak? It would take much creativity to do this, with a silent protagonist typically being difficult to translate well on the screen. The other biggest concern among fans was that the film would be live-action, unlike the highly successful animated Super Mario Bros film. It seemed the best route, particularly in terms of expressing the races in the games; how well would the Gorons or Rito look, for example? Many would have preferred something along the lines of a Studio Ghibli Zelda film, especially since both companies are based in Japan, and much inspiration was taken from the animation studio in creating the beloved game franchise. It’s also been nearly a year since Tears of the Kingdom was released, and some speculated this or the previous Zelda game, Breath of the Wild, could be adapted. However, based on what Ball states in the interview, it seems an older game in the franchise is more likely to be the basis for the movie. When asked for a release date, Ball joked that “Nintendo will come after me” but assured it will be within the next decade. 

With that said, it seems that fans should not expect much anytime soon, which, quite honestly, with how Hollywood is nowadays, may be better in the scheme of things. The more time taken on a project, the more true dedication is shown in the details, unlike something rushed.

Now, the floor is open to all of you. What do you think of this recent news? Reassured, still skeptical, or neutral? Please feel free to hash it out respectfully in the comments below.