Nintendo announced that it is working on a live-action movie based on its popular video game franchise, The Legend of Zelda.
The news comes after the huge success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed over USD1.36 billion worldwide, becoming the second highest-grossing film of the year, behind Barbie.
This is Miyamoto. I have been working on the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda for many years now with Avi Arad-san, who has produced many mega hit films. [1]
— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) November 7, 2023
“This is Miyamoto. I have been working on the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda for many years now with Avi Arad-san, who has produced many mega-hit films,” said Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo game designer, on Nintendo’s X account.
“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,” he adds.
The Zelda movie will be produced by Nintendo and Arad Productions. The film will be directed by Wes Ball, known for the Maze Runner trilogy, and co-produced by Avi Arad, who has been involved in several Marvel and Spider-Man films. It will be co-financed and distributed by Sony Pictures.
The movie will follow the adventures of Link, a young hero who must save the kingdom of Hyrule from the evil Ganon, with the help of Princess Zelda and the mystical Triforce.
The cast and release date of the movie has not been revealed yet.
The Legend of Zelda is one of the most beloved and influential video game series of all time. As of June 2023, the series has sold over 160.491 million units worldwide. The latest installment, Tears of the Kingdom, was released in May 2023 and received high praise from the gaming community.
Nintendo and Sony Pictures hope to replicate the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which was praised for its faithful adaptation of the iconic characters and world of the game, as well as its humor and action.