The Legend of Zelda Live

The iconic video game franchise, The Legend of Zelda, is taking a significant leap into the world of cinema. Shigeru Miyamoto, the co-creator of the beloved game series, has announced that full-scale production for the live-action film adaptation has commenced. Miyamoto shared three exclusive stills featuring the lead actors, Bo Bragason as Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link, in a lush, natural setting.

The film is slated to hit theaters on May 7, 2027, marking a slight delay from its previously announced release date of March 26, 2027. Nintendo is significantly investing in the project, financing over 50% of the production costs, with Sony also contributing as a co-financier. Wes Ball, renowned for directing Maze Runner, is at the helm of this ambitious project. Miyamoto, as the franchise co-creator, Nintendo Representative Director, and Nintendo Fellow, is producing the film alongside Avi Arad, Chairman of Arad Productions Inc. Derek Connolly, known for his work on Jurassic World, is penning the script. Sony will handle the distribution of the film.

Over the years, there have been numerous discussions and speculations about bringing The Legend of Zelda to the big screen, including talks between the writers of the Detective Pikachu film. In 2015, The Wall Street Journal hinted at a potential live-action television series on Netflix, but Nintendo quickly dismissed the report. Later, in 2019, The Wrap reported that Adi Shankar was in discussions to produce a Legend of Zelda TV series, although Shankar later clarified that he was focusing on an animated Devil May Cry series.

The excitement for a live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda follows the success of the 3D animated The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which premiered in the U.S. and over 60 markets worldwide in April 2023. Additionally, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, the first mainline game in the series featuring Zelda as the primary playable character, was released for the Nintendo Switch in September 2024. This top-down game boasts an art style reminiscent of the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, which was released for the Switch in September 2019.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the highly anticipated sequel, debuted in May 2023 after being delayed from its original 2022 release to allow for additional development time. Nintendo initially launched The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the Switch and Wii U in March 2017.

News Source: Animenewsnetwork.com