Image: Nintendo
Nintendo is developing a live-action Legend of Zelda movie with Sony Pictures.
It’s official: Nintendo is making a live-action movie based on its iconic game franchise The Legend of Zelda. The film is being developed by Nintendo in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, which will distribute the film upon its release. A creative team for the film has already been set, so it looks like both companies have put the project on the fast track.
Who’s working on the Legend of Zelda movie?
In its official announcement, Nintendo confirmed that franchise creator Shigeru Miyamoto is producing the Legend of Zelda movie with Sony Pictures’ Avi Arad, who most recently produced Uncharted and Morbius for Sony. Nintendo is set to finance more than 50% of the movie, with Sony forking up the rest of its budget and handling its global distribution.
The movie has also set its writer-director creative team. Wes Ball, who previously helmed The Maze Runner trilogy and the upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, is set to direct the film. Interestingly, Ball tweeted out his interest in directing a Zelda film a whole 13 years ago:
The Legend of Zelda movie will also be written by screenwriter Derek Connolly, who co-wrote screenplays for the Jurassic World trilogy, Pokemon Detective Pikachu and Kong: Skull Island. Miyamoto and Nintendo are reportedly, “heavily involved in the production,” of the movie, which the franchise creator has been working on, “for many years now.”
Nintendo has likely been spurred on by the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie this year, which earned $1.3 billion at the global box office, to produce more films based on its most popular franchises. Currently, Nintendo has provided no further details on what the Zelda movie might cover or when it might be released, only that, “It will take time until its completion.”
So… Metroid movie next? Please?