Cult since 1986: 38 years later, this mythological saga has been transformed into a film with global success, which corresponds to the “greatest wishes of fans”.

Last November, Nintendo announced the start of work on a live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda video game license. Following the success of Super Mario Bros, the Kyoto firm continues the momentum with this ambitious project based on the ultra-popular saga.

After Illumination on Super Mario, Nintendo is teaming up with Sony Pictures to produce this feature film, which will be directed by Wes Ball. The American director, who is currently in full promotion of the new Planet of the Apes chapter, has given us some details about his intentions for the Zelda adaptation.

Fulfill the wishes of the fans

“I have this great idea. I’ve been thinking for a long time about how cool a Zelda movie would be… I want to fulfill the biggest wishes of the audience. I know this franchise is important to the fans and I want a serious movie.”– he assured at the microphone The whole movie.

“I want to make a real movie that lets people escape. The world of Zelda is the world I want to live in. That’s what I want to create: it has to feel like something real. Something serious and cool. But fun and whimsical.”he concluded.

last December, In the columns of Entertainment WeeklyThe director has already mentioned his vision and said that he wanted to shoot “An incredible fantasy and adventure film that was different from The Lord of the Rings, which had its own identity.”

“I always said that I would love to see A Miyazaki in real footage. I’d love to see something like that, with the wonder and imagination it brings to things.”he confided.

Future global success?

Absolutely insanely rich, Zelda’s world, close to that of Lord of the Rings, has the potential to become a global success.

the last part of the saga, tears of the kingdom, which launched on the Nintendo Switch in May 2023, has been a triumph with over 20 million copies sold to date. previous episode wild breath (2017), more than 30 million units were sold in total.

Which direction will Nintendo and Sony Pictures go? Zelda Adaptation: Ocarina of Time (released in 1998 for Nintendo 64), considered to be the greatest game of all time, will be a fabulous source of excitement for fans around the world.

A titanic challenge

Also, if the challenge of adapting Zelda to live-action is titanic, there will be another mountain for teams to climb: what to do when the hero, Link, is silent?

Indeed, the latter never speak in the games, contenting themselves with sound effects and onomatopoeia to reinforce the player’s identification with the protagonist. However, we imagine the knight will find his voice on the big screen again, just like Mario.

For you, which actors would be perfect to play the three main characters, Link, Zelda and the big bad Ganondorf? We’ll let you discuss that while you wait to learn more about the project.

Either way, fans will be waiting in line for this adaptation! The least we can say, though, is that Nintendo has finally let go of the monumental failure of 1993’s live-action Super Mario.

• Zelda: Our 8 candidates to play Link in Nintendo’s Lord of the Rings movie

With the Kyoto firm heavily involved in the production this time around, we can count on it to deliver a high-quality Zelda adaptation. Note that Big N also recently announced the launch of Super Mario Bros 2, still in partnership with Illumination.