Ever since The Super Mario Bros Movie was released last April, fans have been speculating which Nintendo properties could and should get their own movies next. One of the most common suggestions I hear is “They should do a Zelda cartoon!” Should’ve spoken a little louder: we are indeed getting that Zelda movie, but not as a cartoon.
Nintendo announced yesterday afternoon that they’re currently developing a live-action theatrical take on the beloved Legend of Zelda series, with creator Shigeru Miyamoto’s personal involvement alongside Avi Arad, the film producer responsible for most of the Spider-Man movies. According to Miyamoto he personally asked for Arad’s invovement, and has been planning this film for “many years now.”
“I have asked Avi-san to produce this film with me, and we have now officially started the development of the film with Nintendo itself heavily involved in the production. It will take time until its completion, but I hope you look forward to seeing it,” Miyamoto says.
Interestingly enough, the studio Nintendo has chosen to work with is Sony Pictures. I don’t have to say why that’s unusual, but I have to fill this paragraph anyway: Sony produces the Playstation, which makes them business rivals, though if you ask Nintendo they have no rivalry with anyone.
Sitting in the director’s chair will be Wes Ball, who previously directed the Maze Runner trilogy and whose most recent project is the yet to be released “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.” Derek Connolly has been tasked with writing the script — his past work includes “Jurassic World.”
So far, the talent lined up isn’t of the earth-shattering variety, but the same could’ve been said for Illumination’s Super Mario movie, and that turned out fine. It’s anyone’s guess what we’re going to get out of this, though a safe bet would be the plot will involve an elf-like man taking down a powerful demon king with the help of a (possibly imprisoned) magic princess.
