After the massive success of the Super Mario Bros movie, Universal and Illumination are set to create another potential blockbuster — this time, featuring the Hyrule universe from The Legend of Zelda. Famed industry insider Jeff Sneider recently reported that the deal for this highly anticipated film adaptation is "close to official".
Sneider suggested that the financial investment involved in bringing this beloved franchise to the big screen is substantial, reflective of the high stakes and potential payoff of this venture.
The Super Mario Bros movie became a worldwide sensation, garnering billions at the box office and redefining the possibilities of video game adaptations. The enormous commercial success of Mario has evidently given Universal and Illumination the confidence to invest in another iconic Nintendo property: The Legend of Zelda.
Around the 3-minute mark of the following video is where the Zelda negotiations are leaked:
Over the years, the possibility of a Zelda movie has been a hot topic among the franchise's passionate fanbase. The major concern has always been whether any film studio could faithfully adapt the sprawling, richly detailed world of the Zelda games.
The creative team behind Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom have expressed a keen interest in seeing their game's universe on the silver screen. The image of Link, the heroic protagonist, sword held high and ready for battle, is as iconic as the game itself. The prospect of seeing such memorable scenes translated into a cinematic medium has fans on the edge of their seats.
The film's potential production has further been fueled by sentiments from the influential figures behind Tears of the Kingdom. The game's producer, Eiji Aonuma, and director, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, have stated that they are "interested" in the idea of a movie adaptation.
"I have to say, I am interested. For sure. But it's not just me being interested in something that makes things happen, unfortunately,” Aonuma said. This indicates that while the desire for a film exists, the complex realities of film production mean that there are still hurdles to overcome.
The potential Zelda film inevitably raises the question of casting — who would voice the iconic Link? This character, despite being the protagonist, is famously silent throughout the series. The casting decision could be pivotal, especially considering the star-studded cast that propelled the Mario movie to success. What if it's live-action? Who would play him?
There's a lot to be excited about as we look forward to the future of video game adaptations, particularly from Universal and Illumination. A Legend of Zelda film could indeed be the next big thing, but as with all speculative projects, fans are advised to keep their eyes peeled for official announcements and news, as at the end of the day, this is currently just a rumor.
~Smash
