Nintendo and Sony Pictures Confirm Movie Adaptation of Legend of Zelda
Nintendo and Sony Pictures have officially confirmed their collaboration on a live-action adaptation of the beloved video game series, The Legend of Zelda. The creative team behind this ambitious project includes video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad of the Spider-Man trilogy, with direction by Wes Ball, known for The Maze Runner series.
The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's most successful franchises, with a rich history dating back to 1986. The recent release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which sold 10 million copies in just three days, showcases the enduring popularity of the series with 150 million copies of games sold across the series..
Here is the full announcement from Nintendo:
“Nintendo Co., Ltd. (HQ: Kyoto Minami-ku; Representative Director and President: Shuntaro Furukawa, "Nintendo" hereafter) today announced that it will develop a live-action film of The Legend of Zelda.
The film will be produced by Shigeru Miyamoto, Representative Director and Fellow of Nintendo and Avi Arad, Chairman of Arad Productions Inc., who has produced many mega hit films.
The film will be produced by Nintendo and Arad Productions Inc., and directed by Wes Ball. The film will be co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., with more than 50% financed by Nintendo. The theatrical distribution of the film will be done worldwide by Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
By producing visual contents of Nintendo IP by itself, Nintendo is creating new opportunities to have people from around the world to access the world of entertainment which Nintendo has built, through different means apart from its dedicated game consoles.
By getting deeply involved in the movie production with the aim to put smiles on everyone’s faces through entertainment, Nintendo will continue its efforts to produce unique entertainment and deliver it to as many people as possible.”
This exciting project marks the first attempt to bring The Legend of Zelda to the big screen, although the franchise had an animated TV series in 1989. It comes at a time when gaming films are enjoying a renaissance, with titles like Super Mario Bros Movie, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Detective Pikachu proving that the genre has evolved beyond its rocky past.
With the backing of Nintendo, the expertise of Avi Arad, and the creative direction of Wes Ball, fans of The Legend of Zelda can look forward to a live-action adaptation that pays homage to the beloved video game series while delivering a new and immersive cinematic experience.
