Nintendo has officially announced that it is working on a live-action movie version of The Legend of Zelda, one of its most successful video game franchises. The film will be co-produced by Nintendo and Sony Pictures, with Nintendo financing over half of the movie’s budget while Sony releases the film globally. The creator of Legend of Zelda, Shigeru Miyamoto, will produce alongside Avi Arad, whose producer credits include Marvel films Venom and Uncharted. On board to direct is Wes Ball, whose directorial credits include Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and The Maze Runner series.
The movie adaptation follows decades of consideration at Nintendo to bring its beloved franchises to the big screen. The news comes after the massive success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed over $1.36 billion globally. Building on the success, Nintendo aims to expand its presence in movie adaptations, with a desire to see one film release annually. A sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie is already scheduled for April 2026.
Set in the fantasy world of Hyrule, The Legend of Zelda franchise follows the quest of Link, an elf-like hero, as he tries to rescue Princess Zelda from the evil lord Ganon. The franchise has captivated individuals since the first game was released in 1986 and has sold over 160 million copies across more than 20 games. Recent titles like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have been critical as well as commercial successes.
While plot and casting information for the film is under wraps, it’s been said that Wes Ball is hoping to create a live-action aesthetic inspired by the works of Hayao Miyazaki, with a blend of fantasy and realism. Fans have speculated about who might be cast as Link and Zelda, but nothing has been confirmed.
The theatrical release date of the movie has been broadly set in a “202X” period, which implies that it will arrive before the end of this decade.
