The Legend Of Zelda Live-Action Movie: Everything We Know About The Nintendo-Sony Movie
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Zelda heads to the big screen
Following the massive success of Nintendo's The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which made more than $1.3 billion at the box office, Nintendo is returning with another animated Mario movie as well as a live-action The Legend of Zelda movie. The company is leaning into non-gaming projects like this as part of a planned effort to reach people in new ways outside of games.
The Zelda movie is likely still early in the production process, but it already has a director signed on and is expected to come out before the end of the decade. The movie is a co-production between Nintendo and Sony Pictures, with Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto producing. Marvel veteran Avi Arad is another producer on the movie.
Nintendo and Sony Pictures are co-financing the movie, with Nintendo's financial stake standing at more than 50%. Sony Pictures will distribute the film globally.
In this post, we're rounding up everything we know about the Zelda movie.
In other Nintendo news, the company's next console, the Switch 2, is coming this year. For more, check out everything we know about the Switch 2.
What is the Zelda movie about?
Neither Nintendo nor production partner Sony Pictures have released the official plot synopsis for the Zelda movie. But it's a safe bet to guess that the movie will feature popular characters from the renowned RPG series, including Zelda and Link, as well as Ganondorf. The Zelda series is full of fantastical characters and environments, and it'll be interesting to see what kind of story Nintendo decides to tell, or if the film could be an adaptation of a specific game.
A key difference between the Zelda movie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie (and its sequel) is that the Zelda movie is a live-action production as opposed to an animated feature film.
When is the Zelda movie coming out?
The Zelda movie does not have a release date as of yet. It's safe to assume the movie, which was announced in November 2023, is still relatively early in the development process. As such, no one should expect to see Zelda on the big screen anytime soon. It is, however, confirmed to release sometime this decade, following the release of the next Mario animated movie in 2026.
Who's going to be in the Zelda movie?
No casting announcements have been made about the live-action Zelda movie. However, fans have said Euphoria actor Hunter Schafer could be a strong candidate to play Zelda.
Schafer reacted to this fan casting, saying, "That would be so cool. I love the game, personally. I played it as a kid, and I still play it now."
Actor Haley Joel Osment has put his name forward to play Link in the movie.
Osment said he's been a fan of the series since he was a kid and is eager to put his hat in the ring to play Link. He joked that maybe he's now too old, at 37, to play Link, but you never know.
"Oh, my hat's in the ring, they know my hat's been in the ring," he told IGN. "Link was like 37 when he did all this, right!? Seventeen, 37? As a kid, I was like, 'Obviously they're gonna make [Ocarina of Time] a movie soon, the story's all written out for you!' And you're like, 'That'd be very challenging to make into a compelling two-hour movie.'"
The creator of the Tingle character has said he hopes the character shows up in the Zelda movie, and has suggested Heroes star Masi Oka for the role.
Is there a trailer for the Zelda movie?
There is no trailer for the Zelda movie yet, and there likely won't be one soon. Rest assured, though, whenever a trailer is released, it'll be a big deal that gets the internet talking.
Who's directing the Zelda movie?
The live-action Zelda movie will be directed by Wes Ball, who is known for his work on the Maze Runner series and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. The filmmaker wants to swing for live-action Hayao Miyazaki aesthetics with The Legend of Zelda movie, as well as for it to "feel like something real. It remains to be seen exactly what that means, however.
Ball, the director, previously teased his vision for the Zelda movie. "I have this awesome idea," he said. "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."
What about that Zelda TV show?
Years ago, it was reported that Nintendo and Netflix were in discussions for a live-action Zelda TV series. It was reported that the TV show was aiming to be "Game of Thrones for a family audience." Nintendo responded to the report, but never flat-out denied it. In any event, though, a live-action Zelda TV show is not happening anytime soon.