Nintendo and Sony Pictures are teaming up to create a live-action film based on the beloved video game series, The Legend of Zelda.
Renowned video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad, known for the Spider-Man trilogy, will co-produce, with Wes Ball of The Maze Runner set to direct.
While details about the cast and plot remain undisclosed, Miyamoto revealed on Nintendo’s Japanese account that the project is in development, with Nintendo actively involved in production.
The Legend of Zelda franchise, second only to Super Mario in Nintendo’s success, has sold approximately 150 million copies since its debut in 1986.
The latest release, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, sold 10 million copies in three days upon its May 2023 launch, becoming the fastest-selling Zelda game to date. Its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, holds the title of best-selling game in the series, with an estimated 30 million copies sold worldwide.
This venture into filmmaking coincides with a resurgence of success for video game adaptations. The Super Mario Bros Movie, released earlier in the year, became one of the highest-grossing animated films ever, earning over $1 billion at the box office.
Other adaptations, like Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu, have also seen significant box office success, prompting Nintendo’s return to the film industry. Avi Arad, an experienced producer known for his work on Spider-Man films and the Uncharted adaptation, will spearhead the project. This marks the first live-action attempt at a Zelda film, following a 1989 animated TV series and a rumoured Netflix series that never materialised.
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