Nintendo Announces Zelda Live Action Film in the Works

It's official: Nintendo and Sony Pictures are making a live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, one of the most beloved video game franchises ever. Renowned video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad, who co-produced the Spider-Man trilogy, will be co-producers, with The Maze Runner's Wes Ball directing.

Plot and casting details are still under wraps, but Miyamoto has said that development of the film has started and that Nintendo is heavily involved in the production. "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 wrote to fans in a post on Nintendo's Japanese account on X. This will be the first attempt to make a live-action Zelda film. However, the franchise previously had an animated TV series in 1989. Netflix was also rumored to be developing a new Zelda series in 2015, but nothing was ever released. In his statement, Miyamoto revealed how the film's pre-production has been ongoing. "I have been working on the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda for many years now," he wrote.

The Legend of Zelda is one of the most popular and beloved video game franchises ever. First released by Nintendo in 1986, the series follows hero Link on his journey to rescue Zelda, the Princess of Hyrule, from the evil Ganon. Over the past 38 years, over 20 new Zelda games have been released, each with its unique story and gameplay. While the core gameplay elements remain the same, each game introduces new features and mechanics that keep the series fresh and exciting.

So why now? The timing of this film is no coincidence. Gaming films are having a moment right now. After a string of flops in the 90s, films based on video games are finally starting to find success. Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. Movie, released earlier this year, was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $400 million worldwide. And it's not the only one. Films based on Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog and Nintendo's Detective Pikachu have also been hits.